The Eagle Online Academy offers a lifeline to women refugees
Hundreds of Afghan and Ukrainian women and girls across the world are getting an education and are on the path to a better life thanks to the Eagle Online Academy.
The Springfield-based school offers English language classes and skills training in such areas as cybersecurity, software development, business, entrepreneurship, and program management, said founder and CEO Mozhgan Wafiq Alokozai.
“We believe that everyone, regardless of the adversities they face, deserves access to education, unwavering support, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives,” Mozhgan said.
Mozhgan hosted a ladies-only Mother’s Day celebration and fundraiser for the school at the Bamian Restaurant in Bailey’s Crossroads on May 9. The event included a fashion show, Afghan music, food, poetry, speakers, and video greetings from some of the students.
Since the Eagle Online Academy was founded in 2019, 2,000 students have graduated, Mozhgan said.
Of the 700 students currently enrolled, about 500 are refugees from Afghanistan – a third of whom are new arrivals in the U.S. – and the rest are from Ukraine.
In addition to classes, the academy offers job readiness support, mentorships, and webinars on refugees’ legal rights, and orientation sessions to help them settle in their new homes.
The program is especially critical for the refugees it serves because there is no education for girls in Afghanistan, and Ukrainian girls’ lives have been disrupted by war, said Mozhgan, a longtime advocate for women’s empowerment and a member of the U.S. Afghan Women’s Council.
She founded a café and the first woman-led shopping center in Kabul, and trained more than 3,000 women across Afghanistan before immigrating to the U.S. She currently heads a Virginia-based digital marketing company.
“The Eagle Online Academy’s mission is not only essential; it’s urgent,” said Bamian owner Mariam Mustafa. “I’ve always believed that education is the foundation for opportunity, especially for women.”
“Our restaurant is not just a place to eat; it’s a place that provides job training and mentorship to employees,” Mustafa said. “I believe in second chances, in creating a safe space, and seeing the potential in people before they see it in themselves.”
