2024 has been a milestone year for Pax Populi Academy (PPA), the online school of the nonprofit organization, Applied Ethics, Inc. Our underground full-time school for women and girls grew from 25 to 60 students. We expanded our curriculum to include courses in chemistry, such as economics and philosophy while adding extracurricular clubs in various areas including art, business, wellness, and computer coding. We also succeeded in raising funds to bring one of our Afghan teachers and administrator, Fayaz Noori (previously referred to as “U”), and several of his family members to the United States. The family is now safely residing in the US, and, wasting no time, Fayaz is engaged in university studies.
To read our latest blog post in which a student describes her experience at Pax Populi Academy, please click here.
PPA Expands to Meet the Enormous Need for Female Education in Afghanistan
We expanded our program to include grades 8 through 12, along with a few recent high school graduates preparing to apply to universities abroad. They come from a generation of students who were told that with education and hard work their opportunities were limitless. They expected to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, and artists. The denial of the right to education has created tremendous emotional distress for the country’s women and girls. Pax Populi Academy has responded by providing a safe and rigorous education in a kind and supportive environment for a group of highly motivated students.
A Curriculum Built for Intellectual Empowerment and Emotional Well-Being
Pax Populi Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum modeled on international standards to ensure our students are well-prepared for higher education or future careers.
Our courses span a wide range of subjects, including:
• Mathematics: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Pre-Calculus
• English: Beginner to Advanced levels, Introduction to Writing, Essay Writing
• Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science
• Social Studies: World History, Afghanistan History, Economics, Philosophy & Leadership
Because PPA’s admissions process is highly competitive, most of our students had been in the top positions in their previous schools. Those intellectual strengths will be needed to graduate as students must demonstrate mastery in core subjects. Depending on their background, this will require completing at least 40 credits.
Enhancing the School Experience through Clubs
Education is not just about academics. While intellectually demanding, we embrace active learning in a caring culture where students can thrive intellectually, emotionally, and socially. We encourage collaborative learning and peer tutoring. PPA. supplements coursework with student-led extracurricular activities such as the Art Club, Wellness Club, Business Club, Computer Science Club, and Writing Club. These clubs provide opportunities for stimulating social encounters. They also allow students to develop leadership skills and advance their creativity, personal growth, and peer connection. These clubs have a special importance for our students as many of them are dealing with trauma and have limited social interaction outside of the academy.
Safe, Secure, Tuition-Free Education with Financial Aid
The safety of our students and staff is paramount. PPA operates under strict security protocols to maintain a safe online learning environment. All our educational services are provided free of charge, using open-source or public-domain materials. While students are responsible for their internet access and devices, for those facing particularly extreme economic hardship, we offer limited financial aid in the form of monthly stipends to cover the internet connection that enables them to join our online classes. Our goal is to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent any student from attending our school.
Success in Bringing Our Teacher/Administrator, Fayaz Noori, to the United States
Another major accomplishment for PPA occurred when, with the generous support of our donors, our nonprofit succeeded in raising the funds needed to cover the transportation costs to bring Fayaz Noori, a dedicated Pax Populi Academy teacher/administrator, along with six of his family members to the United States. Fayaz was first a student in our program from 2019 until 2021 when we still accepted both male and female students. After the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan in August 2021, Fayaz and his family were at risk of Taliban retribution and fled Afghanistan to Pakistan. In late 2023, the Pakistani government began repatriating hundreds of thousands of Afghans back to Afghanistan. This would have placed the family in great danger. Fortunately, they were granted the legal right to come to the United States under humanitarian parole, and over the summer they were able to make the trip to the United States, where they are all safe and doing very well.
Before he arrived in the United States, Fayaz applied for admission to the University of Tulsa and was admitted. He is now enrolled as a freshman and working hard to achieve his BA degree. Reflecting on his new life, Fayaz shared, “Despite the challenges of balancing family responsibilities and college, we are living the best moments of our lives and striving to become good citizens. My sister loves attending school, and my family has found a welcoming community here.”
Responding to an Overwhelming Need
Over the summer, we posted an application link for up to 50 new students to our school. In five days we had 586 applications! This underscores the urgent need for educational opportunities for Afghan women and girls. With the continued support of our donors and partners, we aim to improve our educational capabilities, expand our reach, and provide even more young women with the education they deserve.
The Students’ Expressions of Gratitude
The impact of PPA on the lives of our students has been profound. In October, our students organized a meeting on International Teachers Day. This was their way of expressing their feelings for their school and teachers. Repeatedly, students expressed an outpouring of love and gratitude. In countless ways, we heard the students state, “Teachers, I love you so much. You’re so kind. You’re so patient. You helped me so much.” Their appreciation reinforces our commitment to strengthen and expand Pax Populi Academy.
Looking Ahead with Thanks
As we celebrate the achievements of the past year, we are also looking ahead to the future. We plan to further expand our enrollment and continue to enhance our programs to meet the evolving needs of our students.
We are grateful to our volunteers and donors whose support makes our work possible. Your contributions enable us to provide tuition-free education, cover internet costs for students in need, and expand our reach.
For questions, please write to info@appliedethics.org or lara@appliedethics.og.
To donate, please click on this link.
For more information on Pax Populi’s underground school, click here.
Editor’s note: To protect her identity, we use the letter “A” to refer to the author of the following post. “A” is a junior at Pax Populi Academy. The essay appears with almost no edits Read more…
Congratulations to Pax Populi Academy for completing in June 2024 its first year as a full-curriculum underground school for women and girls in Afghanistan! Over the previous nine months, a group of dedicated teachers, students, and Read more…
Last year we introduced you to Z., an extraordinary student in Pax Populi’s Underground School for Women and Girls in Afghanistan. Here is what we said… “Z” isn’t her name or even her initial. Z., Read more…