I am working to make Afghanistan a healthier and more educated place for women and children
Afghanistan- my country of birth. There is so much hope and potential for the people here.
I want to see the opportunity for all women to become educated in Afghanistan, and to have healthier lives.
Dr. Sakena Yacoobi is Executive Director and founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning. Established to provide education and health services to women and children, AIL now provides services to 350,000 Afghans annually by working at the grassroots level. Sakena’s vision of a healthier Afghanistan evolved after watching her mother give birth to 15 children, only to have 5 children survive. AIL was the first organization to offer human rights and leadership training to Afghan women and first to open Women’s Learning Centers—a concept now copied by many organizations throughout Afghanistan. Dr. Yacoobi has received multiple awards and honors, including becoming an Ashoka Fellow. Recent awards include the Gleitsman Award and the Henry R. Kravis Award for Leadership. Sakena has also received honorary doctorates from two Universities for her distinguished contribution to society.
