Who We Are

About Social Spark

A community of educators, organizers, and changemakers committed to building a more equitable world.

Our Story

Who We Are

Spark of Light and Hope Organization was built in response to a crisis that could not wait. Schools closed. Girls locked out of learning. Villages without teachers. Families displaced by conflict with no path back to education for their children.

SLHO was founded to fill that gap — not with complicated programs imported from other countries, but with something simpler and more durable. Local volunteers. Safe community spaces. Offline materials that work without internet. And child protection built in from the very first day.

We work in Kunduz, Baghlan, and Takhar provinces, with children aged 8 to 14 who have been out of school for years — some who have never been in a classroom at all. Girls are our priority because they face the highest barriers.

We do not move fast. We move right.

Our Vision

We believe Afghan children deserve more than survival. They deserve a future they helped build. Picture a girl in Kunduz who can read a story to her younger brother. A displaced boy in Baghlan who knows how to stay safe. Children who were not forced into work or early marriage because there was no school to attend. This is not a distant dream. It is the future we are building now. We believe education cannot wait for the system to fix itself. We believe communities hold the answer — local volunteers who know the children by name, speak their language, and understand their lives. We believe a child who is not safe cannot learn, and a child who is not learning is more vulnerable to harm. And we believe that one child who learns to read changes more than her own life. She changes her family, her community, and the expectations of every girl who comes after her. One child. One class. One community at a time.

Our Mission

We protect children from harm and help them get a quality education in Afghanistan — even where schools are closed, internet is unreliable, and access is hard. We work in the places others find difficult to reach. Remote villages with no teacher. Communities where girls have been shut out of school. Families displaced by conflict with nothing left but the hope that their children’s lives will be different. Our answer is simple. We train local volunteers from the same communities to lead small learning groups in safe spaces. We provide offline materials that work without internet. We keep child protection at the center of everything — because a child who is not safe cannot learn. We do not replace formal schools. For children who have nowhere else to go, we offer something to hold onto while they wait. A place to learn. A place to be protected. A place to hope again.

Leadership

Meet the Team

Brilliant people working alongside communities to build something lasting.

Ibrahim

Founder

Ibrahim Sahar brings 10 years of nonprofit leadership and a passion for community-led development. He founded SLHO after a decade of humanitarian work

Sammeuddin Ammar

Founder

Humanitarian leader and Child Protection Specialist with over 10 years of experience designing and executing high-impact community protection programs. Proven track record of strategic partnerships with UN agencies and international stakeholders.

Sayed Mustafa Hashimi

Co-Founder and Director

Mustafa oversees program design and delivery, ensuring every workshop, training, and services meet the highest standards of impact and inclusion.

Ahmad Shabir Nabiyar

Co-Founder

Ahmad Shabir Nabiyar brings a decade of child protection experience with UNICEF and aims to provide the highest standards of services for vulnerable communities.

Sayed Anjamuddin Shayan

Co-Founder

Shayan brings a powerful combination of technical expertise and a passion for social impact. With a strong foundation in modern technology, he leverages digital tools and strategic innovation.

Our Journey

Milestones Along the Way

2015

The Beginning

Spark and Light of Hope founded by a coalition of educators and community organizers running weekend workshops.

2017

First National Program

Launched our flagship leadership training, reaching 500 participants in 12 communities.

2020

Going Digital

Pivoted to online learning during the global pandemic, reaching new audiences and tripling our impact.

2023

Recognition

Awarded the National Community Impact Prize and partnered with three major foundations.

Today

The Next Chapter

Operating in 48 communities, training thousands annually, and just getting started.