Swedish Committee for Afghanistan

In 2022, more than 133,000 children (64% of whom were girls) attended more than 3,000 classes in schools supported by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA). Over 2.5 million patient visits were made to SCA’s clinics and hospitals. More than 940,000 of these were made by women. SCA also supports the rehabilitation of people with disabilities and contribute to development in rural areas.

Women, children, people with disabilities and returnees benefit from SCA’s activities. Quality of life is improved when there are schools for children in rural areas, midwives that reduce maternal mortality and prostheses for people with disabilities. We empower people so that they can change their lives and live with dignity.

40 years in Afghanistan

SCA has over 7,000 Afghan employees, all contributing to development of the country. The programmes are to the vast majority implemented in rural areas. SCA is operating in 18 of Afghanistan’s provinces.

For 40 years we have been present among those in Afghanistan who need us most; despite war and conflict. We have decided to stay as long as we are needed.

SCA is an NGO, not linked to any government. We have more than 3,000 members in eleven local associations in Sweden. SCA receives funding from a wide range of donors, including UN agencies, the EU, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and private individuals.

History

SCA was founded in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In 1981 SCA began to raise funds for humanitarian support for the Afghan people. One year later SCA opened an office in Peshawar, Pakistan, and started to send medicines and equipment to four small clinics in occupied Afghanistan.

In 1984 the first primary school was founded, and three years later SCA began to work in rural development. The programme for support to people with disabilities started in 1992. Since then SCA has continued to work for our vision of an Afghanistan free from poverty, violence, and discrimination. Gradually SCA has shifted from merely humanitarian service delivery to a becoming a development organisation.