The Nangarhar Department of Labor and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the international NGO ACTED, has successfully rescued 450 children from the streets of Jalalabad, enrolling them in formal education.

The children, previously engaged in begging, garbage collection, and other forms of hard labour, were part of a six-month support and transition programme designed to prepare them for school, according to a spokesperson for the department. The spokesperson said the initiative has given these children, who once faced harsh and exploitative conditions, "their first steps toward a brighter, more dignified future."

During the programme, each child received a monthly stipend of 1,270 Afghanis (£15) to support their families and encourage consistent participation. The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat child exploitation and provide educational opportunities, fostering a generation that is healthy, informed, and productive.

The programme comes amid ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, where economic hardship and instability have forced many children into labour to support their families. Efforts like this highlight a growing push to protect vulnerable children and ensure access to education, a critical step towards breaking the cycle of poverty.

ACTED and local authorities say they are committed to expanding such initiatives to reach more children across Nangarhar and beyond, as part of a wider vision to rebuild Afghanistan’s future through education and opportunity. (ILKHA)