Supporting Little Girls in Afghanistan 

Little girls in Afghanistan are facing a severe crisis and most people are not willing to do anything about it. Today there are between 1.6 – 2 million orphan children who have lost their parents due to war, disaster, and the Taliban and today they roam the streets looking for food, shelter, and basic care. Many of them are young girls who are abused, enslaved, married off to older men, or sold by their families.

In three northern provinces (Jawzjan, Faryab, and Samangan), local reporting found roughly 70 children under age 5 were sold in one year, with about 70% of them being girls. Prices were reported in the range of $2,000 – $3,200 USD, or the price of a cow in America.

These young girls are sold into slavery and are either trafficked or given over as brides to much older men. The practice is widespread and grows with the enforcement of Islam. Recent estimates indicate that more than 10% of all Afghani girls are married before the age of 15. The situation is exacerbated by a ban on girls going to school or work. Some families describe it as a desperate survival strategy and sometimes sell their young daughter as trade for feed for their animals.

This is why BTJ has been supporting efforts to help orphans in Afghanistan with a special focus on young girls. Since 2023, BTJ has been supporting underground schools for orphans. The newest school that just started this year has thirty children and provides education for young girls (an illegal act in Afghanistan) who are forbidden from going to school.

Aisha (not her real name) is one of the students at the new school. Aisha has three siblings and was left homeless when both of her parents were killed in an earthquake. BTJ provided food and winter clothing for her and her siblings after the earthquake, and shared about the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Today, Aisha and her siblings are all being cared for by Christian missionaries.

During a recent visit to a village where BTJ launched our 5th orphanage, one of the locals said, “God has heard the cry of us who have been forgotten. Otherwise how could people like you ever come to a remote village like ours? For years we have written letters asking for help, but even religious leaders and government authorities never responded. Please do not forget us. The future of our village depends on our children receiving an education so they will not grow up in the same darkness and illiteracy that our generation experienced.”

BTJ missionaries have sent hundreds of photos of the young children who are now receiving an education, but the photos cannot be shared because of security risks. Sadly, if the Taliban ever learned about these underground orphanages that provide illegal education for young girls, there could be life threatening reactions. Only a few years ago, there were hundreds of NGOs to help, but today most of them have left. After the 2021 Taliban takeover, foreign aid has plummeted, the banking system is destroyed, and the economy has been in free fall.

If you would like to make a difference for girls in Afghanistan, you can help in two ways.

First, you could consider sending a donation. For only $16 USD, you can help support a child for ONE ENTIRE MONTH to have a warm home, food, and a safe bed. For only $16 USD, you can keep a young girl from being sold. Through a wide network of underground Christian believers in Afghanistan, BTJ is able to provide homes, shelter, and love for children located throughout the country. Through the network, the children are also taught about the salvation of Jesus Christ, which is in direct contrast to the teachings of Islam taught by the Taliban.

Second, you can consider becoming a GateKeeper and partnering with BTJ every month with support and prayer. As a BTJ GateKeeper, you will be added to an exclusive, closed chat group that gives frequent updates about the situation in places where BTJ missionaries serve, including Afghanistan.