Afghan Australian Development Organisation

AADO’s work guided by the principle that education is a key cornerstone in ensuring poverty reduction and sustainable development. Since 2007, AADO has trained 1393 in-service secondary science and mathematics teachers across four provinces; 624 in-service tertiary science and mathematics master trainers across five provinces; 1050 women have graduated from AADO’s 12-month Life Skills Program; and 38 young men have attained trade level skills in carpentry, with ongoing employment, through our TVET program. In addition, AADO has established remote community centres, installed remote deep well water pumps and delivered numerous community based education programs on a needs basis, such as: rural accelerated learning programs that address interrupted schooling; A step to tertiary education bridging program for disadvantaged rural students; basic health programs for rural women; vocational training for rural women; media training; and office administration training. AADO is committed to supporting sustainable development through a ‘community development’ model that does not support welfare service-delivery, evangelical or political activities. AADO delivers its development programs in collaboration with in-country partners via closely-knit networks. All AADO programs are identified and developed through consultation and participation with local communities, and endorsed by, Afghan regional and provincial leaders and village elders, as well as relevant government ministries. AADO views community development as an ongoing and complex process whereby communities and individuals are empowered to use their skills and knowledge to sustainably enhance their resources, to reduce poverty, and bring about positive change in their communities. Recognition of Afghan culture and traditions is integral to the design and delivery of AADO’s programs, which ensure that participants’ skills become self-sustaining in the community, fostering the sharing of knowledge and self-education within the wider community. In the last twelve years, AADO has implemented projects in Kabul, Herat, Samangan, Kunar, Uruzgan and Parwan provinces in Afghanistan, providing basic literacy, numeracy, health and vocational training to women in rural villages, as well as training to trade level for youn men as carpenters, and in-service teacher training and resources for educational institutions. To support these programs, AADO received sponsorship within Australia from The Planet Wheeler Foundation, Cabrini Mission, Dave and Kerry Foundation, Cubit Family Foundation, Portland house Foundation, Snowy Mountains Electricity Commission Foundation, The Asia Foundation, Melbourne Community Foundation, Riding for Afghanistan, as well as ongoing donations from concerned individuals. AADO has also benefited from funding from the Direct Aid Program through the Australian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, and from other countries including the Deutsche Afghan Initiative and the French Embassy in Kabul. AADO is recognised as an agency that works sccessfully with communities fractured by war and instability. In doing this, AADO has had to continuously evolve and adapt to the changing external environment in Afghanistan. This has enabled the organisation to remain creative and flexible in responding to needs as they arise.