PIONEERING OPPORTUNITIES:
In just one year, 98,225 people attended CAI programs. In 2017, as CAI increases its funding for early childhood education, literacy and vocational programs, and teacher training and
scholarships, the number of CAI beneficiaries will substantially grow.
As our friends in Central Asia say, inshallah (“God willing”) in the years that follow we
will give hundreds of thousands more future leaders the opportunity to attend innovative
education programs.
Pioneering educational opportunities is both our heritage and our future. As such, CAI’s
dedication to pioneering programs will not change going forward, but the emphasis of CAI’s
funding will shift to meet the changing needs of the people we serve.
While school construction, classroom expansion, latrines, and security walls will still be
a vital part of our future support, the growing need for innovative education programs requires that we move the focus of our expenditures to support more education and training program funding for rural populations, displaced persons and urban refugees, girls and
women, and all those living in poverty.
To this end, in honor of a generous legacy donor and her gracious family, CAI has formed
“The Pioneer Program Fund.” This fund will give CAI’s in-country partners the opportunity
to receive extraordinary funding for innovative education and economic empowerment programs that have “leverage-able” potential. Qualifying programs will not only need to provide
innovative solutions to pressing local needs, but will also need to have the potential to be
expanded to benefit larger communities, regions, provinces, or, potentially, other countries.
Many good examples of qualifying programs can be found in CAI’s rich history of innovation, such as the combining of literacy and vocational training into a single program, early
childhood development teacher training, and the startup of small “in-home” schools within
marginalized and at-risk communities where students are often unable to leave their neighborhoods to attend class.
We are optimistic new innovations in education, economic empowerment, and social entrepreneurship will be incubated through this exciting new program. We are also optimistic
other foundations, corporations, and government funders will eventually co-sponsor CAI in
this ongoing effort to foster community-generated innovations in education.
We hope this brief look into the future leaves you optimistic about the prospects of the
young women and men of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Their passion for education
and the opportunity it will bring their communities is truly inspiring.
We would like to acknowledge the amazing work of our in-country partners, without
whom none of this would be possible. And as always, CAI beneficiaries, and the men and
women who work for CAI domestically and internationally, are eternally grateful to CAI’s
kindhearted global community of donors.
There are many obstacles ahead, but they will all fall away as we join together to fight for a
single, powerful mission – peace through education.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
“After all the frightening years of war in
Afghanistan and Pakistan, girls can now have
a chance for hope and purpose in life through
education. Central Asia Institute is answering
a call for change from women and men who are
recognizing the value of women’s education.”
“We are eternally
grateful to CAI’s
kindhearted global
community of
donors.”
James Thaden
is the executive
director of Central
Asia Institute.
He was born
and raised in
Washington, but
spent much of
his adult life in
Philadelphia, New York, and Tennessee.
Prior to joining Central Asia Institute, he
worked as development director for the
Discovery Place, where he played a key
role in that organization’s turnaround into
a sustainable social enterprise. Prior to his
social enterprise work, which he calls his
“second career,” Thaden was a successful
entrepreneur.
Jed Williamson is
the past president
of Sterling College
in Vermont and
of the American
Alpine Club. He
has been the editor
of “Accidents in
North American
Mountaineering” since 1974 and is
the co-author of the Association for
Experiential Education’s Accreditation
Standards for Adventure Programs. He
has been a director, program director,
and instructor for U.S. Outward Bound,
executive director of the United States
Biathlon Association, and has served on
several nonprofit boards. Jed has been a
member of CAI’s board of directors since
July 2012. He became chair of CAI’s board
of directors in 2016.
Julie - donor since 2002
FALL 2016
JOURNEY OF HOPE | 7