(CNN Hero Razia Jan speaks on camera in this shot that is on the CNN Heroes Web site. Behind her, students sing and dance. Photo by Karen Wong.)

In Part I of this story which appeared in the July 25 edition of the Clipper, Razia Jan had met with the Village Elders of Deh’ Subz where her Zabuli School for Girls is located and requested their blessing in adding another floor to open a high school. Though she had their approval, she still needed the financial resources to make her dream for the girls of Afghanistan come true. Then the phone rang.

It was CNN Producer Allie Torgan calling to confirm CNN’s interest in Jan as a CNN Hero and to say a video crew would be coming later in the week to observe Jan at the School. Jan was visibly moved by the call.

“I was surprised and honored to get recognition for my struggle to help educate the girls and women in Afghanistan,” said Jan. After speaking with CNN, Jan immediately phoned Patti Quigley to tell her the great news.

It was early June when a CNN Hero producer contacted Quigley to say that Jan was being considered. Allie Torgan and other producers spent a great deal of time interviewing Jan’s colleagues and Ray of Hope board members to determine if Jan should be a Hero. A few weeks later, Torgan emailed Jan. Before going further in the process or sending a camera crew to the Zabuli School, Torgan wanted to make sure the attention would not put the students or Jan at risk for attack. The Afghan Education Ministry reported that this year alone, 500 girls’ schools were closed by the Taliban.

“She told me that I was nominated,” said Jan. “She wanted to make sure that it was okay with me and it was okay with the school.”

Fridays in Afghanistan are a holiday for schools and many businesses, but Friday, June 29 was the day Jan met the CNN Heroes crew at the Zabuli School for an interview. A translator and security guard accompanied CNN Producer Sumnima Udas and cameraman Sanjiv Talreja, who are based in India. Udas interviewed Jan in one of the classrooms for three hours.

“The crew was very professional,” said Jan. “They knew exactly what they wanted to film. They had sheets with hundreds of questions.”

Sumnima Udas and her crew returned to the school over the next two days to tape the students and Jan in the classrooms and on the playground. They also took video around Deh’ Subz and traveled to the home of Momen Yer who has three daughters at the Zabuli School.

“Nadia and two other girls were interviewed,” said Jan. Momen Yer’s daughter Nadia is in seventh grade and is a top student at the Zabuli School. “Also Nadia’s uncle (was interviewed). It went really well.”

After three long days of taping, Jan and all those involved with the Zabuli School and Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation could not openly discuss the CNN Heroes visit. CNN Hero Nominees are not considered CNN Heroes until their stories air on the CNN Web site or broadcast on television. Waiting wasn’t easy.

It took time to edit the hours of video and then breaking news events delayed the airing of Jan’s profile so Quigley and other Ray of Hope Board members could only wait and wonder if Jan would actually be named a CNN Hero. Finally, word came on the evening of August 2 that Jan was the CNN Hero of the Week.

Upon getting the news, Razia’s Ray of Hope Executive Director Patti Quigley was delighted.

“I was elated and a little bit surprised because I put the nomination in a year ago,” said Quigley. “I hadn’t heard anything and didn’t know they were still looking at it.”

Quigley, who’s been a volunteer with Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation since its inception in 2007, said she was thrilled for Razia, noting the added attention from CNN will mean more credibility for their work both at home and abroad. Since CNN first aired its segment on Jan August 2, the Ray of Hope Web site had thousands more hits and a boost in donations to the non-profit foundation.

“The main reason why I nominated Razia was because I thought with all the work she does for everybody else, it makes sense for her to get a really prestigious award,” said Quigley. “The credibility that goes along with receiving a CNN Heroes award would really help her cause.”

CNN Heroes are selected from viewer nominations. Last year, more than 10,000 nominations were received from 100 countries. Each week, a CNN Hero is profiled on the global networks of CNN. In September, the Top 10 CNN Heroes for 2012 will be announced. From the Top 10, viewers select the CNN Hero of the Year via online voting, according to CNN. The Hero of the Year will be revealed during a live broadcast of CNN Heroes on December 2, 2012.

Kelly Flynn, senior executive producer of the CNN Heroes Initiatives said Jan suits the criteria perfectly.

“CNN Heroes is all about recognizing everyday people around the world who are doing extraordinary things,” said Flynn. “They aren’t necessarily seeking the spotlight, but see a need out there - and commit to making change and helping others. Razia Jan exemplifies this ideal. Her dedication and passion to educating Afghan schoolgirls is remarkable. And when you learn more about her personal story, it’s even more compelling. She’s in her sixties and stepped out of her comfort zone to act on something that had been a dream for decades. I think her story just goes to show that you are never too old or too young to change the world.”

Reacting to the news, Razia’s Ray of Hope board member and Duxbury resident Margaret Brook said, “Oh my gosh, I was really proud and thrilled for Razia that her vision and dreams are coming to fruition. I’m proud that her efforts are being recognized. It is so well deserved.”

Brook encouraged people to support their efforts by “liking” Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation Facebook Page, following it on Twitter and visiting the Web site to learn more about the school.

“I hope (this award) will have a positive impact on the Zabuli School and it’s future,” said Brook.

When Razia Jan was asked a few days before the announcement what it would mean for the Zabuli School if she were to be named a CNN Hero, Jan said, “If by any miracle I am a Hero, that will help the Zabuli School to grow and educate these girls for many years to come.”

Once she learned she was chosen and had time to reflect how being a hero would change her life, Jan said, “I won’t change my work to make sure that the girls are protected and given the best opportunity in life.”

To view a short clip of Razia Jan and the Zabuli School, go to cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/. Visit her Web site at raziasrayofhope.org.