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Afghani parents, who in the past forbade their daughters to attend school due to societal taboos, are once again keeping them at home because of attacks by militants wielding acid or worse, National Public Radio reports. Nearly half the country's children do not attend classes, most of them in the Taliban-rife south, says Afghanistan's education minister, Farouq Wardak. Hundreds of schools have closed in Kandahar and neighboring provinces because of militant attacks and threats.

Yet many girls are refusing to give up their schooling, no matter the cost. The Afghan government, aid groups, and defiant teachers are operating public schools and secret, in-home classes in a risky effort to ensure that Afghan girls get an education. Today, the number of classes exceeds 400, each with about 30 students. To help coax families into sending their girls, students are given wheat, cooking oil, and salt. "I want to serve my nation and my country," says 17-year-old teacher Marzia Sadat. "If the militants kill me, so be it. I pray to God, as do my mother and father, and that gives me the strength not to be afraid," she says.

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The World Forum publication, From Conflict to Peace Building: The Power of Early Childhood Initiatives — Lessons from Around the World contains stories of hope and encouragement about what early childhood practitioners can do and achieve in the face of adversity. From Conflict to Peace Building shows us that it is possible to make a real difference in the lives of children and families in societies affected by conflict. Moreover, the stories illustrate the power of the early years sector, not only as a foundation stone upon which to re-build communities, but also as a vehicle for peace building because of its ability to reach across political divides and to encourage the differing sides in conflict to develop alternative visions of the future based around the needs of children. The print version of the book can be purchased at the Exchange web site, and a pdf version of the book can be downloaded for free on the World Forum website.

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