This is how the PPA student, S. M., described her artwork in crochet: “The seedling represents Afghan girls (students of PPA) and the watering can represents Pax Populi Academy. The watering can stand shows that PPA is built on kindness and humanity, which helps the students grow.”
Fifteen years ago, when we started Pax Populi Academy (PPA), we never could have predicted this moment. However, when the Taliban returned to power and banned all women and girls from formal education beyond the 6th grade, we recognized the immediate challenge and pivoted. Today, we have transformed PPA into a full-time online school with a complete curriculum, serving over 110 female students in grades 7 through 12. These numbers, however, only tell a small part of the story. The real story is one of human dignity, hope, and love. 2025 has been a year of exceptional growth and development, not only because of the increased number of students and advancements in our academic offerings, but also because when things looked bleak and hopeless for so many young Afghan women and girls, PPA provided an educational community which, in the words of one of our students, “PPA is built on kindness and humanity, which helps the students grow.where our students can flourish.
To read our latest blog post in which a student describes her experience at Pax Populi Academy, please click here.
Education Based on Global Standards in Response to Persecution
The “new” Pax Populi Academy was created in response to a crisis in Afghanistan with global implications. Nowhere else on earth are the women and girls of an entire country been subjected to such an assault. Recognizing the scale and severity of the injustice, in July 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague responded by issuing charges against leaders of the Afghan regime for crimes against humanity for gender persecution, specifically citing the policy of depriving women and girls access to education.
For many of our students, this ban initially brought profound depression and despair. However, the regime did not shut down the internet. This digital lifeline provided us the opportunity to draw on years of experience in online education to create a different kind of school—one that provides not only academic rigor but also a learning community in which the inherent worth of every student is affirmed, and friendships can flourish.
Responding to Overwhelming Demand
For security reasons, we still must operate in secret. Nevertheless, the demand for our services is immense. During a brief application window for approximately 50 openings, over 1,500 applications were submitted. Although we are not a famous, wealthy school, the overwhelming response is indicative of the massive need for female education. The huge response, however, does allow us to be highly selective, filling our classes with qualified, motivated students who were often top performers in their former schools.
Our students’ achievements are being recognized internationally. While we navigate complex policy hurdles regarding university matriculation, we are seeing breakthroughs: two of our students were recently admitted to and are attending private high schools in Canada. This is just the beginning, as we continue to seek opportunities for our talented students to continue their education beyond our school.
Recognition in Competing with the Best
Blue Ocean Award for PPA teacher, Ms. Eman Al-Ezzi.
PPA had five teams that competed in the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition. This is described as the “largest and most prestigious virtual pitch competition for high school students around the world.” In 2025, over 12,700 students from more than 6000 schools in 163 countries took part in the competition. While none of the PPA teams won, one of our teachers who guided the student, Ms. Eman Al-Ezzi, was awarded the “Certificate of Outstanding Achievement” as a “Blue Ocean Teacher Champion.” Congratulations Ms. Al-Ezzi!
In the Midst of Darkness, a Community of Light: The Astronomy Camp
One of the greatest strengths of PPA is the role our students play in creating a rich intellectual and social community. Through various extracurricular clubs—ranging from entrepreneurship to personal wellness—students find connection despite their physical isolation.
The Afghan Sky (photo by M. Ali Sheida)
An exciting innovation in 2025 was a summer “Astronomy Camp” conceived and led by a rising senior we will call “E.” “E” and her classmates drew on internet resources to study the universe, but the learning came to life at night. In a country facing deep poverty and hardship, the lack of light pollution reveals a brilliant celestial panorama. Despite the strict security protocols under which our school operates, this club became a striking example of unity: students residing in different provinces were connected by their shared experience of gazing at the same awesome sky.
Student Reflections
The impact of this community is best expressed by the students themselves. As participants in the Astronomy Camp told their teacher, “E”:
“The astronomy summer camp was an amazing experience! I learned so much about stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe… It made me more curious about space and how everything works beyond Earth.”
“I truly enjoyed the camp… Along with gaining this knowledge, I also learned which things are important and which can be very dangerous, but the good thing is that they are far from Earth.”
“I discovered so many things I didn’t know before, and my love for astronomy grew even more. I also made great memories with my friends during the camp.”
The Road Ahead
Student leaders like “E” are a testimony to the intelligence and strength of our student body. Despite the difficulties they face, they remain inspired learners whose passion propels them to create new methods for exploring and growing. With each new year, PPA evolves into a stronger learning community dedicated to unleashing the enormous potential of Afghanistan’s many gifted young women.
We are grateful for the immense progress we made over the last year. None of it would have been possible without our extraordinary volunteers and generous donors whose support makes our work possible. As our school has expanded, our expenses have grown far beyond those of previous years. The cost of the internet is beyond the financial means of our students and their families. To continue this work, your contributions are indispensable.
To donate, please click on this link.
For questions, please write to info@appliedethics.org or lara@appliedethics.og.
For more information on Pax Populi Academy, click here.
Editor’s note: To protect her identity, we use the letter “B” to refer to the author of the following post. The essay appears with almost no edits to preserve the author’s voice. When the internet Read more…
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…