SAFE, Support for Afghan Further Education is a non-profit, non-political organisation founded in 1990 in the Republic of Ireland, in response to the devastating effect on education due to the Afghan tragedy.
It is a Charitable Trust, and was formally registered as an Irish Charity under Trust Deed on 1st October 1992. The SAFE Board comprises a Chairman and five Trustees.
- - SAFE is the only registered Irish charity & Non Governmental Development Organisation whose sole function is to help Afghanistan.
- - From its foundation in 1990, SAFE has been helping the Afghan people: initially in the field of third level education by funding 25 Afghans refugees through Universities in Pakistan and, more recently, five Afghan refugee sisters to successful third and post graduate level.
- - SAFE is not an implementing agency. It works principally through local partners (Afghan NGO agencies), as they have extremely important skills, local knowledge of custom & tradition and particularly, the genuine needs of rural communities. This enables them to implement appropriate and cost effective projects with the fullest participation and, wherever possible, contributions from local communities at all stages.
- - SAFE raises funds from individuals and organisations through personal contact, and seeks to arrange grants and co-financing from sympathetic donors primarily to enable local (National Afghan)NGOs and occasionally, some carefully selected international agencies, to advance their objectives.
- - SAFE has no paid employees at home or abroad, and sends no expatriates to work in Afghanistan.
- - All services are provided voluntarily, and administration costs are kept to a minimum.
- - SAFE’s average administrative cost is 2%, or less, allowing a remarkable 98%+ of total income to be applied directly to projects. It is our goal to make use of every Euro, as effectively and efficiently as possible.
- - SAFE endeavours to be proactive rather than reactive.
What are SAFE's Aims?
- - To support rehabilitation and sustainable development work.
- - To respond to emergency appeals where possible.
- - To raise awareness at home about Afghanistan.
What are SAFE's Objectives?
- - To promote, encourage, and advance the education of Afghans.
- - To relieve poverty and distress for Afghans.
- - To assist the Afghans in the rehabilitation of their economy by implementing and establishing sustainable development projects of lasting benefit for the Afghan community.
Development assistance is designed to address poverty and promote sustainable economic growth and development.
How long has SAFE existed?
SAFE was founded in 1990 and established as a non-profit Charity CHY10477, by Trust Deed, in October 1992.
From its foundation in 1990, SAFE, at the request of the Afghan Development Association, helped 25 Afghan refugee students (24 male, 1 female) to study at third level, initially in Peshawar University and the Khyber Medical College-NWFP of Pakistan, by providing scholarships covering all their fees and books.
Who distributes the assistance aid?
SAFE has had a successful and rewarding partnership with CAWC for the past 13 years and, before that, with nine professional and accountable Afghan NGOs who have implemented its projects in Afghanistan. SAFE considers working with an Afghan NGO to be one of its highest priorities.
