Aziz Royesh is a prominent Afghan educator, social activist, and peacebuilder, widely recognized for his pioneering efforts in establishing and promoting education in Afghanistan. He is best known as the founder of the Marefat High School in Kabul, an institution that has become a significant center of learning, particularly for the marginalized Hazara community and internally displaced persons.
Born into an internally displaced Hazara family, Royesh experienced the profound disruptions of war and conflict firsthand, including living as a refugee in Iran. This personal history deeply informed his commitment to providing quality education as a means of empowerment, social change, and peacebuilding. In 2000, amidst the ongoing instability in Afghanistan, he established Marefat High School (also known as Marefat Civil Capacity Building Organization). Initially operating under difficult and often clandestine conditions, the school quickly grew to serve a large student body.
Marefat High School is notable for its co-educational environment, its focus on critical thinking, democratic values, and community engagement, and its dedication to serving both boys and girls from diverse backgrounds, including refugees, returnees, and the internally displaced. Royesh's innovative educational philosophy challenges traditional teaching methods, emphasizing dialogue, civic responsibility, and human rights.
Royesh's dedication to education and peace has earned him international acclaim. In 2017, he was recognized as one of the top ten finalists for the Global Teacher Prize, an annual award presented by the Varkey Foundation to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. His work continues to advocate for education as a fundamental human right and a powerful tool for rebuilding society and fostering lasting peace in Afghanistan. He remains an influential voice for educational reform and social justice in his country.