Making an Epek Impact in Afghanistan

All Epek initiatives and supporting programs are intentionally designed to meet needs and build relationships.

This 2-prong approach offers the opportunity for our friends and partners to be part of the relationships.

No one can do this work alone. We are seeking the support and commitment of like-minded partners and friends. We invite you and encourage you to join us to make true transformation a reality.

Education and Skills Training

EPEK education and training is focused on providing Afghans with marketable skills to help them provide for themselves and their families. EPEK strives to make a sustainable impact on lives and communities. Skilled workers also help communities. Afghans in both Afghanistan and NYC can have their dignity restored and be elevated to succeed not only individually, but potentially as business owners and leaders who can have a positive impact on their sphere of influence.

What better way to lift a person, and perhaps generations, out of poverty than through literacy and education? Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, currently estimated at about 31% of the adult population (over 15 years of age). We are working to change that—literacy is integrated into all of our educational programming.

We have identified two proven ways to provide access to the resources needed for success:

1) Young Adult Training Program
Each year an average of 400,000 young Afghans enter the labor market, many without marketable skills. The EPEK Young Adult Training Program targets these young high school graduates to teach them English proficiency, computer skills (both hardware and software), marketing, management, accounting, etc. They graduate with the American equivalent of an Associates Degree in Business. This education opens many opportunities they would not otherwise have.

2) Basic Workforce Skills Training
To help families become sustainable, EPEK will train men and women with marketable vocational skills. Initial classes for men will include small engine repair, carpentry, and literacy. Classes for women will include sewing, carpet weaving, and literacy.

Each training module will include education in basic business skills—budgeting, accounting, business plan creation, human resources, etc.—to ultimately enable our students to grow businesses.

Long-Distance Learning and Cultural Sharing

There are exciting ways to use new technology to connect to people in a difficult place, to break down barriers and change perceptions. We are introducing high tech resources into our communities to enable Afghans in our various programs to connect to volunteers in the United States. Volunteers create a larger pool of teachers, educators, etc., and everyone participating can mutually learn and grow through cultural sharing.

This innovative approach will be a guided initiative by trained facilitators. Afghans in EPEK programs who are chosen to participate in this initiative will have a basic command of the English language.

While we encourage our supporters to be part of short-term teams that physically visit Afghanistan, this is a way that relationships can be built, and apprehensions removed, so people can be comfortable, and even eager to visit their new friends and their communities.

Health and Wellness

Our model is to integrate health and wellness components into all of our initiatives.

In addition to providing emergency food packages, we will equip volunteer leaders for preventative care that saves lives and improves quality of life. We will operate a clinic to provide basic healthcare services for women and children connected to our programs.

As part of our work with youth and young adults, we will also focus on sports and fitness.

EPEK works to address the holistic needs of those we serve—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.