Contrasts abound in Afghanistan. Contrasts fill the news, and barely scratch the surface.  Afghan women read – 13 percent of them, the lowest female literacy rate in the world. Deh Sabz is a district on the northeast outskirts of Kabul. Ravaged by the Soviets, the rival warlords who followed the Russian tanks, the Taliban, and the air and ground forces of the U.S. and other members of the coalition, seven villages in the district now have their first ever school for girls. National and cultural resistance to teaching girls to read is countered by the Zabuli School, a private school licensed by the Afghan Ministry of Education and free to the girls who attend. The first thing the girls are taught is to write their fathers’ names in three languages – Dari, Pashto and English. One result was that a little girl’s father returned to the school the following morning, weeping with joy, humility and gratitude that, while he cannot read and write, his daughter already knows how to do so in three languages

The Zabuli School was conceived and founded by Duxbury’s Razia Jan, and opened at the end of March in 2008. Now entering its fifth year, the school teaches girls through middle school, including its first ever eighth grade class. Razia spoke briefly at the Wearing Hope Fashion Show at the Art Complex Museum last Thursday. You can read about Razia’s work at the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation website raziasrayofhope.org.

But hearing Razia herself, I was reminded of something I’ve learned about Afghans: they say exactly what they mean.

“I’ve done amazing things,” Razia said, speaking of the Zabuli School as well as her other full-time job in Afghanistan directing programs for Arzu Rugs, arzustudiohope.org. “Arzu has changed the lives of 2,000 women. They now have self-respect, and a place in their families. Every time I see the girls at the Zabuli School, I think of how their lives can change. And Duxbury has made this possible. There is a mark on Duxbury’s forehead – a shining star.”

Afghans, I’ve learned, never brag. They simply state their truth. In fact, if there is a rule of etiquette about such things in Afghanistan, it is that one never claims more than he or she can deliver. Razia always delivers.

As a result, Duxbury Rotary recently secured a matching grant of $20,000 from Rotary International to improve the Zabuli School’s work. The school now has 10 computers, generators to power them, three printers, desks and a teacher for one year to support computer literacy.

“Soon we hope to have Internet access,” Razia said. “The girls will be able to connect with the whole world.”

Oh – the fashion show. The contrast between glittering life we live and the aching needs of the girls of Deh Sabz was not what you might think. Here, there was a union of the two worlds. Razia (and others) explained that purchasing a scarf will provide backpacks and learning essentials for a student, while a dress or jacket might send a girl to school for the year. Buy $900 worth, and you’ve paid a teacher’s salary for the year. That’s right $900.

Every penny raised went straight to the girls. A $20 bracelet meant $20 for the girls. Even the designs for the clothes (and the clothes themselves) were donated, including designs by Razia herself.

“When I get two free minutes, I think of something to do or I design something,” said Razia. “I don’t want to waste a single moment. I am old, and anything can happen. But the school changes the girls forever. Even if they’ve only gone for three years, their lives have changed. And now they know more than their brothers!”

That brought laughter and cheers from the audience, and reminded me of a line I heard a few years ago from a young American returning to his family after training Afghan police officers.

“The Taliban’s worst enemy,” he said, “is an educated woman.”