The Hissor Youth Center was opened in July of 2024, and exists to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for young people to enjoy, learn, and grow. We believe that every person has the potential to make a positive difference in the world, and we want to help them discover and develop their abilities.
English Clubs
Our clubs began with two beginner English courses but quickly have added two Elementary English classes as well. In
addition, we have an ongoing English Conversation
Class, where young adults with intermediate English
can come and practice their language in conversation.
Chess Club
Every week, our chess club meets together with anywhere between 5-15 kids. During this time, we have classes on chess as well as game times, so they can grow in their skill as they play. We hold regular Chess Club Championships.
Soccer
Our soccer club meets two a week, with a total of 20 children participating. Our classes help kids to practice their skills on the field, learn more about the game, and also take time to learn about virtues such as respect and teamwork.
Painting
We hold weekly painting courses. The teacher, who works with visual arts, teaches painting on canvas, drawing, different kinds of paints, and shadows. Students can go on to use these skills for art, or for designing and sketching, as some students are also learning to sew outside of class.
Stories from the projects
A model for her children: Nargis and embroidery
Embroidery and mental health may not seem connected at first glance, but for Nargis and many other women in Omega’s Embroidery Course, it has made all the difference.
More than a business: “bringing happiness, joy, and music”
“Music can bring us closer to one another,” Jawad says. “Today, whether you are a Tajik or an Afghan, when you hear a song from Adele or Elvis Presley or whoever it is that you know, even if you don’t know what they are saying, you still feel things. You are a little more joyful,…
Counting down the days
Sano had always been interested in learning to embroider and was excited to gain a new skill. She had looked at embroidery courses before, but they all charged a fee, which she knew she couldn’t afford each month. When her friend brought her to Nuur Women’s Center – part of Omega’s projects in Vahdat –…
Rozia the Tailor: Growing in skills, growing in business
When Rozia and her family of 7 arrived in Tajikistan – just one month before the previous government of Afghanistan fell – she wasn’t sure how they would make ends meet. While it was good to feel safe, there were still plenty of challenges they had to face. “We didn’t have a place to stay…
Husna’s story: realizing her vision
Husna – a recent graduate from Omega’s Personal Development Course – is warm, charming, and easy to talk to – but she says that hasn’t always been the case. It’s only in the last few years that she has become the person she is today. “If there was something social, I tried to avoid it,”…
“Bit by bit”
Less than a year ago, Robia had never played soccer, but you wouldn’t know it now – twice a week, she is out on the field with her team, excited to be there. “The first day that we went, none of us could really play, and we did some weird things! We were all laughing –…