July 2016—It was pitch black outside when Sana-ul-Haq began his work day at 3.00 a.m. Most of the village was still sound asleep as he got dressed and headed over to the nearby brick kiln where he worked with his father and siblings.

Sana-ul-Haq is 8 years old.

“My sister, my brothers and I worked with my father so that we can earn a living together,” says Sana-ul-Haq, who lives in the Surkh-Rod district, about 10 kilometers south of Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern province of Nangarhar, and one of Afghanistan’s largest cities.

Because his work days are long, until recently, Sana-ul-Haq did not attend a formal primary school.

But a new nearby school has drastically transformed how Sana-ul-Haq spends his days. He and his sister Madina, 6, now attend the school because it is close by. It may not look like much—one room in a brick and mud structure—but it is a sanctuary located in one of Afghanistan’s most insecure provinces. The school serves 37 students, including 18 girls, who would otherwise not have access to any education at all. With classes in the afternoon, the children can attend school after work.

USAID, in partnership with UNICEF, started a Community-Based Education program in Surkh-Rod district in early 2015.

“These schools are for children who do not have access to formal schools. It’s not only Sana-ul-Haq and his sister, but all the children in this village do hard labor to earn a living,” says Gul Aqa, head teacher at the school.

Community elders play a vital role in the establishment of the classes. They advocate for education as they motivate and mobilize parents to send their children to the school. Villages provide space for the program’s classes.

“I have already learned how to write numbers up to 100, how to pray and do a number of other things,” says Sana-ul-Haq.

“This school not only provides an opportunity to learn, but it is a fun and comforting environment for all the children who work in the brick kilns in the area,” Aqa emphasized.

Sana-ul-Haq concurs. “I am so happy to go to school. I play with other children during break times and study with my sister at home,” he says.

Since 2006, USAID has collaborated with partners and the Ministry of Education to establish over 2,000 community-based education classes and to provide education for over 150,000 children—more than 40 percent of whom are girls in rural and conflict-affected areas.

*Many Afghans use only one name.

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