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.org.

Last spring, Z. received a competitive scholarship to study at a high school in Canada. This is a letter from Z. with only minor edits describing her time at Pax Populi Academy:

It is Z. I have been a student at Pax Populi Academy since late 2022. If I say just one word about Pax Populi, it would be life-changing. Since I became a student there, I have improved a lot. Not just academically but mentally as well. During the ongoing chaos in Afghanistan, I felt very calm and peaceful since I joined this Academy. I got the great opportunity to be in a school again when Pax Populi launched their school in 2023. Despite the fact that we could not see each other in person, I always felt fully supported by my incredible teachers and friends. I got the pleasure to be a math teacher for one and a half years in this Academy as well as being a student. Entering each class, whether it was my own class or others’, I felt like I entered a room full of my loved ones. Whether you were a teacher or a student in this Academy, everyone treated each other like siblings. The curriculum at Pax Populi Academy is based on international standards. I had great teachers who made the lessons very easy for me. Every student takes social studies, math, English, and science classes. There are different clubs available as well.

What I really loved about this Academy was that everyone is always there for each other despite their own problems. During this stressful time in Afghanistan, they uplift each other with every tiny strength remaining in their blood. I remember whenever I felt down, it was enough to text someone in Pax Populi, and that was all. When I was absent, my peers would text me to see if there was any problem with me. These actions mean a lot for us because we are going through a lot. At Pax Populi Academy, I only saw strength and power. Power to be patient, hopeful, helpful, and most of all power to keep working hard.

As a member of Pax Populi, I learned all these values. I got a full scholarship to study in Canada and currently live there. All the values I learned at Pax Populi Academy led me to where I am now. Working hard and staying hopeful at the same time, my efforts worked out. I am thankful to Pax Populi for all the values they taught me as well their existence in every down time I faced. I would have given up multiple times by now if they were not there for me. The school was a hope for me like a candle in the darkness. Additionally, because I got familiar with the international curriculum through Pax Populi Academy, I feel less pressure at my school in Canada. I feel very confident attending my classes, especially math, because Pax Populi provided a similar high quality education for me. Words can’t express how grateful I am for being a part of such an empowering Academy. I look forward to being a source of help for my peers back home through volunteering in this wonderful Academy. I would like to thank the director of this Academy Mr. McNulty and my lovely teacher Ms. Lara Chuppe for their great support for Afghan girls in every up and down situation in Afghanistan.

With Love,

Z.

Z. is excelling academically at her school in Canada, and we are thrilled to see her thriving as we know she would.

Please support and share about our work, so we can continue helping girls like Z. soar!

Hello. I am writing this message on behalf of many Afghan doves.

I tried to write about our situation here, many times. But I failed. Because, I could not find proper words for them. It is really beyond what words can handle. In addition, I did not want to write emotional words that would make you feel sorry for us.

But know that, we are enduring a lot. Beyond a teenage girl’s capacity. We are growing up, but not 2, or 3, or 4 years, hundreds of years. Not in years, but in the silent battles we fight in this darkness. There are hundreds of thousands of doves who are falling, but they do not reach the ground. You know why? Because they are not conscious of their ability to fly. They do not know that they have wings. They need someone to remind them that they have wings, the ability to fly. But unfortunately, they have no one to stand by their side.

It has been 4 years that we are handling all this alone. We did not want anything else from the world, but talking about this, but raising awareness about this situation. Let alone the fact that no one is even talking about it. People, from around the world, are coming and hanging out with this group here. Every day, we see many tourists coming here with a camera in their hands, saying, “Hey guys, as you can see there are more women than men on streets, so women can actually go out! It’s so safe here! I have not experienced anything bad from them.”

It feels like being in a coma, and someone says, “Her heart is beating, so she is living.”

But I promise, one day we will all be able to fly, very high in the sky, over the clouds. Carrying the pure white flags of peace, we will show the world that kindness and love is the biggest trait of humanity.