PPA grows to over 110 students in grades 7 to 12
Now in our third academic year, Pax Populi Academy (PPA) has grown from a small pilot project fueled by conviction and perseverance to a fully functioning school with a curriculum modeled on standards found in respected secondary schools around the world.
When the regime in Afghanistan barred formal education for women and girls beyond the 6th grade, we set ourselves to the task of creating a school that would permit our students to complete their secondary education. Our goal is to prepare them for university or the workforce, however limited those options may currently be. The period from 7th to 12th grade—generally the teenage years or early 20s for students whose education was disrupted—is critical for physical and mental development. PPA has created an environment that enables our students to acquire the educational and life skills needed to flourish.
The following is a brief overview of where we stand today.
Background
For over a decade, our nonprofit sought to advance peace through education via our online school, which specialized in English language learning. Everything changed following the withdrawal of the United States and its coalition partners in August 2021. Soon after the Taliban returned to power, they began imposing extreme controls designed to deprive the country’s women and girls of all educational opportunities beyond primary school.
When the magnitude of the crisis in female education in Afghanistan became clear, our organizational connections there ran too deep to permit us to sit passively on the sidelines. After months of preparation and under tight security, in October 2023, we launched a new “underground” version of Pax Populi Academy with a broad curriculum modeled on well-established international standards. To strengthen confidentiality, our school has no public activities in Afghanistan, and we refrain from using our public name within the country.
“A Crime Against Humanity” Rules the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court, The Hague
The Taliban’s policy of denying education to girls and women is part of a broader attack on human rights inflicted on a group singled out by gender. Afghanistan’s women and girls are not only being deprived of education; they are being forced into home isolation to strip them of autonomy, power, and the potential for self-development.
Consequently, in July 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for the regime’s top leaders for their persecution of women and girls.
Building a World-Class Education
Our curriculum is modeled on established international standards. It is designed to prepare students not just for graduation, but for success in higher education globally as well as life outside the classroom.
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Mathematics: Our math program includes courses from Pre-Algebra to Calculus. Some of our college-bound seniors study Calculus at a level exceeding AP Calculus AB.
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Science: We offer a full suite of sciences, including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Our Advanced Biology course utilizes standard AP Biology textbooks, and our Computer Science course is based on the AP Computer Science curriculum.
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Social Studies: Our World History course is built around college-level texts, with the aim that our students engage in historical analysis and reflection rather than simple rote memorization.
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Philosophy & Literature: We emphasize critical thinking and communication. Through courses in philosophy and literature, students advance their communication skills as analytical writers and independent thinkers.
Community Life Beyond the Classroom
One of the greatest hardships endured by our students is forced isolation. Under the strictures of the regime, women and girls are strictly limited in their public movements. While our school is entirely online and can never fully replace in-person interaction, we create a safe space where students interact with peers not only on schoolwork but also on personal interests, hobbies, and fun. To further their learning and personal growth, students are encouraged to lead clubs, engage in peer tutoring, and mentor younger students. Examples of PPA extracurricular activities include:
- Art Club
- Business Club
- Chess Club
- Writing Club
- Astronomy Camp
- Computer Science Club
- Wellness Club
Blue Ocean Award for PPA teacher, Ms. Eman Al-Ezzi.
Last year, five PPA teams competed in the Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition. With 12,700 students from more than 6000 schools in 163 countries, it is described as the “largest and most prestigious virtual pitch competition for high school students around the world.” While the PPA teams were not among the winners, we are proud to announce that one of our teachers who guided the student, Ms. Eman Al-Ezzi, was awarded the “Certificate of Outstanding Achievement” as a “Blue Ocean Teacher Champion”!
The People in People-to-People Peacebuilding
Pax Populi is founded on the concept of people-to-people peacebuilding. We continue to welcome international volunteers, but our school depends largely on Afghans helping Afghans. Their commitment confirms the value our school holds for them.
Pax Populi Academy’s Commitment to Security
Pax Populi is not the only organization offering schooling for girls and women in Afghanistan. Every school chooses the educational path it finds most appropriate. At Pax Populi, we have chosen a path of maximum security. Here and elsewhere, we acknowledge that our school exists, and we share some information on its features, but we will reveal nothing that could put our students and their families at risk. Our top concern is the security of our students, teachers, and administrators in Afghanistan. We acknowledge that our school exists, but beyond that, we adhere to strict — even extreme — measures to secure the confidentiality of information of anyone in Afghanistan associated with our school.
The Role of Parents
No student enters our school in isolation. Behind every student is a family that recognizes the importance of education. Before a student can enroll, parents must confirm that they support their daughter’s attendance and agree that all household members will maintain the strict confidentiality required to keep our school secure. No student enters our school in isolation. Behind every student is a family strongly committed to the advancement of their daughter’s education.
The Overwhelming Demand for Admission to Our School
Despite our school’s low profile, the demand for our services is overwhelming. With each passing year of Taliban control, the number of girls denied access to education grows. According to UNICEF, in March 2025, 2.2 million Afghan girls had been denied access to school. Similarly, according to UNESCO, approximately 100,000 young women have lost access to university studies due to the ban.
This helps explain the surge in applications to PPA. In our last admissions cycle, we received over 1,500 applications for just 50 seats. Admission to PPA has become a competitive process; those admitted are often gifted and highly motivated students who were top performers in their previous schools.
Responding to Our Students’ Urgent Financial Needs
Afghanistan’s economy has been devastated since 2021. According to the United Nations, 75 percent of the population remains “subsistence-insecure,” struggling to meet basic survival needs. Most of our students lack the funds to pay for the internet connection required to attend online classes. They depend on us to cover these monthly costs.
More than ever, we need financial support if we are to keep our school running. To support our work, please click here.