Background
Charmaghz was founded in 2018 to instill a joy of reading in Afghan children through Mobile Libraries. Based in Kabul and a registered NGO, Charmaghz grew from the dreams of a group of Afghan youth whose childhoods were scarred by war, and who wanted to secure a peaceful future for the next generation. We believe that a necessary, first step towards that future is ensuring all children can read, write, and do basic math—though currently only 7% of primary school age children in Afghanistan are proficient in these skills. In Farsi, “Charmaghz” means “four brains,” which reflects our mission to expand and fulfill the potential of Afghan children through literacy and critical thinking. Charmaghz was founded and is led by Freshta Karim, an internationally recognized advocate for education and children’s rights.
Charmaghz is the largest chain of children’s libraries in Afghanistan. We operate 36 Mobile Libraries in Kabul to welcome children into a safe, encouraging, and creative learning environment. While visiting our Libraries, children are supported to build basic literacy and numeracy skills, but also to engage in art activities, have an open-mind, think critically, and to develop a love of reading. Since 2018, our Libraries have been visited over one million times, and over half of our visitors are girls. We are proud to be an Afghan-led and women-led organization; 97% of our 62 staff are Afghan, and 76% are women.
Following the Taliban take-over of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Charmaghz leadership team reflected critically about the future of the organization, and how to ensure that Charmaghz would be able to continue providing high-quality educational opportunities to young people in Afghanistan in the long-term. One decision that emerged from that process was to register Charmaghz as a non-profit in the US, under the name The Freshta Foundation Inc. International registration will ensure that Charmaghz has a legal and administrative base outside of Afghanistan, and open up catalytic fundraising opportunities. This Board of Directors will oversee both the operations and governance of The Freshta Foundation, and Charmaghz.
The inaugural Board of Trustees for the Freshta Foundation currently includes four members, and we are now seeking to expand the Board to fill additional key roles, including a Secretary (we are also currently recruiting for a Treasurer, and a Trustee with expertise in fundraising).
(The Secretary may serve as a Director and voting member of the Board, or as a non-Director and non-voting member of the Board; we are open to both arrangements. The general responsibilities of Trustees mentioned below only applies in the event that the Secretary serves as a Director and voting member of the Board.)
Trustee Terms of Reference
All Trustees are expected to attend and contribute to quarterly Board meetings, each of which will last two hours. Board meetings will typically be held remotely, but depending on the location and availability of Trustees, may be held in person once per year. During Board meetings, Trustees are expected to advise on high-level matters related to The Freshta Foundation and Charmaghz, including governance, accountability to the communities Charmaghz serves, strategy development, fundraising, partnerships, organizational development, and financial oversight. The Board of Trustees is also responsible for approving the annual budget and reviewing the performance of the CEO of The Freshta Foundation.
In addition to attending Board meetings, Trustees will also be expected to contribute an additional 2 – 4 hours per month to support the growth and governance of the Freshta Foundation / Charmaghz. Areas of support will depend on the capacities of each individual Trustee, but may indicatively include:
- Providing mentorship and leadership support to Charmaghz’s leadership team.
- Advising the Charmaghz leadership team on management, operational, and strategic matters.
- Connecting the Charmaghz leadership team with interested funders or external visibility opportunities.
- Reviewing and providing feedback on key organizational documents (e.g. strategic plan).
- Providing technical input on project documents, such as curricula used in Charmaghz’s programs.
- Contributing towards Charmaghz’s fundraising goals. This can be fulfilled through the different options below:
- Sharing and promoting Charmaghz’s online fundraising campaigns.
- Becoming a monthly donor or making a yearly gift.
- Connecting Charmaghz with philanthropic individuals/organizations who could contribute to Charmaghz.
- Attending networking events to represent Charmaghz.
We are seeking a Secretary of the Board to support the coordination, organization, and timely operations of the Board; expected responsibilities include:
- Record accurate and detailed minutes of meetings for each Board meeting, and ensure each set of minutes is duly approved by the Board.
- Accurately record the outcomes of any votes taken by the Board.
- Manage the scheduling of Board meetings.
- Assist with onboarding of new Board members, and the exit transition of Board members at the end of their terms.
- Ensure all Board materials (powerpoints, documents for review and approval, etc.) are well-organized in a digital filing system and accessible to Board members.
- Assist the President of the Board with any other duties as assigned.
This Secretary role will be offered for an initial term of two years. This is an unpaid role.
Qualifications
We are seeking a diverse group of Trustees who have a deep, genuine commitment to Charmaghz’s mission and vision, and a passion for supporting children’s education in Afghanistan. We believe that a Board of Trustees with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences will be best positioned to support and oversee the Freshta Foundation and Charmaghz. To that end, there is no single profile we are looking for in the Secretary, but rather we are keen to bring together a small group of dedicated individuals with different and complementary backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets.
For this role, we welcome candidates with the following experiences and qualifications:
- Superb organizational and communication skills
- Excellent writing skills
- Experience working with senior leadership of small non-profits
- Experience serving in a similar role on the Boards of other non-profits
In addition, we hope the Secretary will have a selection of the following experiences and qualifications:
- Deep experience in primary education, literacy, education in emergencies, developing children’s critical thinking, and/or psychosocial support for children.
- Prior/ongoing professional experience in global affairs, including Afghanistan.
- Understanding of the governance and safeguarding responsibilities of Trustees.
- Experience working with a variety of international stakeholders, including foreign country governments.
- Experience in organizational development and strategy, and supporting small organizations to grow in a sustainable manner.
- Personal or professional networks that can be leveraged to build Charmaghz’s base of supporters, including networks related to media, advocacy, international affairs, human rights, and education.
- Ability to represent Charmaghz externally.
We particularly encourage Afghan candidates to apply.
What We Offer
By joining the Board of Directors of the Freshta Foundation / Charmaghz, you will become an integral part of an ambitious grassroots organization deeply committed to serving Afghan children, and expanding the possible futures available to them. You will have the opportunity to work with and accompany the next generation of Afghan and women leaders, and meaningfully contribute to the long-term growth, sustainability, and development of a small non-profit. Most importantly, your service will directly impact the quality and availability of education for children in Afghanistan today, and for years to come.
How to apply
To apply for the role of Secretary of the Board, please send your CV and a one-page cover letter to liz.robinson@charmaghz.org by Friday August 16th. (We recognize that July and August are often a time for rest and connecting with family and friends, not your laptop; if you are interested in this role but would like additional time to prepare an application, please send a message to the above email address).