Evaluating peer-to-peer mentorship and human capital development among adolescent girls in Afghanistan

This project evaluates the effectiveness of peer-to-peer mentorship for improving the academic performance and mental health of female students in grades 6 and 8 (ages 12-15) in Afghanistan. Additionally, the research team will study the mechanisms through which peer-to-peer mentorship can achieve positive outcomes and how mentorship programs can be designed most effectively. Through interviews with students, households, and resource teachers in government schools that both have and have not been randomly assigned to receive the BRAC Education mentorship intervention, the research team aims to better understand how educational outcomes can be improved in the face of budget shortages and human capital constraints. Moreover, results from this study will contribute to understanding the psychological and social barriers to learning among students in high stress environments. Results forthcoming.