Dari Language School

The VAYA Dari Language School created a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment where young people had the opportunity to learn, socialise, and connect with the Afghan community. The school operated every Saturday during the school term, providing students with opportunities to develop their Dari language skills while building positive relationships, confidence, and a strong sense of community.

Mission

The VAYA Dari Language School was a program of the Victorian Afghan Youth Association (VAYA). From 2022 to 2025, VAYA, as a non-profit and non-political organisation, was dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the Dari language and Afghan culture through Dari reading and writing classes.

The program aimed to support students from Afghan backgrounds in maintaining their linguistic and cultural traditions, while also promoting awareness and appreciation of the Dari language within the wider Australian community.

VAYA recognised that the Dari language is an important expression of Afghan thought, feelings, values, history, and literary traditions. Through the Dari Language School, VAYA worked to support the continued use and appreciation of the language among younger generations and to help ensure that this important part of Afghan heritage remained strong and connected to the community.

The school also provided young people with an opportunity to learn alongside their peers, build friendships, and develop a stronger connection to their cultural identity and heritage.