Afghanistan
Women and Girls
Updates from the Field - Vital Job-Skills Training for 500 Afghan Women
Updates from the FieldUpdates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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Recent Updates from the Field
- Sep 28, 2009 - Stories from Afghan Women
- May 26, 2009 - 2008 Afghanistan Report
- Apr 16, 2009 - Update: Two Women in Afghanistan
- Feb 12, 2009 - Women for Women International's Afghan Field Report
- Feb 12, 2009 - Portraits of Afghan Women on PBS
- Feb 12, 2009 - Read Country Director Sweeta Noori's Letter to the Editor of NY Times
- Sep 26, 2008 - American Express Members Project
- Jun 7, 2007 - Job Skills Training in Afghanistan
- Sep 15, 2006 - Women for Women International Wins Humanitarian Prize
Stories from Afghan Women
By Ariana LaMagra - Anisa and Marzari's Stories, September 28, 2009 02:12 PM
Anisa
Anisa is 28 years old and lives in Parwan Province, Afghanistan. She lives with her husband of 11 years and her three children. Their home has running water, but no electricity and the nearest market is 20 minutes away on foot.
More than anything, Anisa stresses the importance of education for herself and her children. She has two daughters and one son, and she and her husband hope to have at least two more children. Anisa is pleased with the improvement in the availability of education for Afghans but there is more to be done, especially for women like herself who have never been to school before. “If I could tell President Obama about women, I would tell him to help Afghan women to be educated,” she said.
All of Anisa’s kids are in school, it’s very important to her that she see her children receive the education she never had. “Girls should go to school in order to be educated,” she said. “We need [education] for female doctors in the future.” Educating women to become doctors is particularly important in Afghanistan. After decades of preventing women from being educated, all Afghan doctors are male. Yet in Afghanistan, men and women are not allowed to be alone in a room together, even as doctor and patient. This means that when a woman goes to the doctor, she must be accompanied by her husband, impinging on her privacy or, worse still, she must sit behind a curtain and explain her ailments to the doctor without him examining her physically. This of course leads to inaccurate diagnoses and generally poor healthcare for women.
She began Women for Women International’s program in January and has been a participant for nearly six months now. “I have learned many useful lessons about women’s rights,” she said, “and I really like tailoring class!” Like the majority of Afghan women who enter the WfWI-Afghanistan program, Anisa faces discrimination and reduced freedoms because she is a woman. Although voting is legally open to all Afghans above the age of 18, including women, Anisa says that she does not vote because she “is not allowed.” When leaving the house, she must first consult her husband and can only go out accompanied by her son. But the education she is receiving from Women for Women is already helping to empower her to understand her rights as an Afghan woman. “Both men and women are equal, and women can also work and study,” she says. “Everyone can live free, get education, and work.”
Marzari
Marzari is 32-years-old andhas been with Women for Women International-Afghanistan for nearly six months. She lives in Kapisa with her husband of 20 years and seven children. Although she was married at age 12 to a man she had never met before, she describes their marriage as a happy partnership. “He is a very kind man…we do not do anything until we discuss with each other.”
Things have improved for Marzari and her family in the past five years. She has running water and electricity in her home, and all of her children are in school, including her three daughters. “Before, my husband was jobless and my children were not in school. Now they are, and my husband is working as well.”
Marzari says that the situation for Afghan women has improved as well. Now she is able to leave her house by herself as she pleases. She is learning her rights through WfWI-Afghanistan’s rights awareness training, and knows that women and men are equals. “Everyone can live free, can work and study,” she says.
An educated woman herself, Marzari stresses the importance of sending her seven children to school. Marzari went to school until the 11th grade, but at that time she was still barred from furthering her education and finding employment. Now, as Afghanistan undergoes reconstruction, Marzari is aware of the opportunities that may be open to her daughters as they grow up in the new Afghanistan. “Both my sons and my daughters are in school. Girls should be educated as well because the government will need them.”
Marzari is proof that the opinions of Afghan women should be taken into consideration as Afghanistan continues the process of reconstruction. She demonstrates her understanding of the current security situation in Afghanistan and prioritizes national police- and national army-training as a means of increased security. Women like Marzari are hopeful that they and their daughters will have increased opportunity to voice their opinions and take an active role in securing the future of Afghanistan.
Safiya, 17 – Safiya is a 17 year old girl living in Nijro province. She is in school and has been with Women for Women International – Afghanistan (WfWI-Afghanistan) for almost one year. Safiya represents a new generation of Afghan women, allowed to pursue an education and who at nearly 18 remains unmarried with no children. Safiya is aware of this new role, she says, “[Afghanistan] has changed a lot, especially in education.”
But she and her family continue to live in debilitating poverty. While she has access to healthcare, education and other services and commodities, Safiya must walk at least 40 minutes to her school and to the nearest health clinic. Forced to live on rental property, Safiya says of her situation, “We have economical problems. [My family needs] a house, it is very urgent.”
Safiya is becoming educated about women’s rights and voting from Women for Women. Not yet 18, she is not legally allowed to acquire a voting card yet but plans to when she is old enough. But Safiya is wise despite her youth. “Even though I am not completely 18, [my] view point is a good leader is a person who serves his homeland.” Her greatest wish for the next ten years in her homeland is for the restoration of peace and security. “We have 50 percent security in Afghanistan, not 100 percent. When our national police and national army really serve our homeland then security will improve; if they continue to take bribes, it is not possible.”
Safiya’s education has increased her awareness of the gender disparities Afghan women face. “Both men and women have equal rights, but usually men do not accept this matter.” This is the reality for most Afghan women. Despite strides made in women’s access to education and being given the legal right to vote, Afghan society often dictates otherwise. “Sometime it is very difficult for women, like when men force them to do something and they don’t want to…and even they are not allowed getting out of the house.” Knowledgeable young women like Safiya inspire hope in the eyes of many Afghan women. She is well educated and confident in her vision for the future of Afghanistan. Continuing to invest in the futures of women like Safiya help to ensure a stronger future for Afghanistan and for Afghan women.
Anisa is 28 years old and lives in Parwan Province, Afghanistan. She lives with her husband of 11 years and her three children. Their home has running water, but no electricity and the nearest market is 20 minutes away on foot.
More than anything, Anisa stresses the importance of education for herself and her children. She has two daughters and one son, and she and her husband hope to have at least two more children. Anisa is pleased with the improvement in the availability of education for Afghans but there is more to be done, especially for women like herself who have never been to school before. “If I could tell President Obama about women, I would tell him to help Afghan women to be educated,” she said.
All of Anisa’s kids are in school, it’s very important to her that she see her children receive the education she never had. “Girls should go to school in order to be educated,” she said. “We need [education] for female doctors in the future.” Educating women to become doctors is particularly important in Afghanistan. After decades of preventing women from being educated, all Afghan doctors are male. Yet in Afghanistan, men and women are not allowed to be alone in a room together, even as doctor and patient. This means that when a woman goes to the doctor, she must be accompanied by her husband, impinging on her privacy or, worse still, she must sit behind a curtain and explain her ailments to the doctor without him examining her physically. This of course leads to inaccurate diagnoses and generally poor healthcare for women.
She began Women for Women International’s program in January and has been a participant for nearly six months now. “I have learned many useful lessons about women’s rights,” she said, “and I really like tailoring class!” Like the majority of Afghan women who enter the WfWI-Afghanistan program, Anisa faces discrimination and reduced freedoms because she is a woman. Although voting is legally open to all Afghans above the age of 18, including women, Anisa says that she does not vote because she “is not allowed.” When leaving the house, she must first consult her husband and can only go out accompanied by her son. But the education she is receiving from Women for Women is already helping to empower her to understand her rights as an Afghan woman. “Both men and women are equal, and women can also work and study,” she says. “Everyone can live free, get education, and work.”
Marzari
Marzari is 32-years-old andhas been with Women for Women International-Afghanistan for nearly six months. She lives in Kapisa with her husband of 20 years and seven children. Although she was married at age 12 to a man she had never met before, she describes their marriage as a happy partnership. “He is a very kind man…we do not do anything until we discuss with each other.”
Things have improved for Marzari and her family in the past five years. She has running water and electricity in her home, and all of her children are in school, including her three daughters. “Before, my husband was jobless and my children were not in school. Now they are, and my husband is working as well.”
Marzari says that the situation for Afghan women has improved as well. Now she is able to leave her house by herself as she pleases. She is learning her rights through WfWI-Afghanistan’s rights awareness training, and knows that women and men are equals. “Everyone can live free, can work and study,” she says.
An educated woman herself, Marzari stresses the importance of sending her seven children to school. Marzari went to school until the 11th grade, but at that time she was still barred from furthering her education and finding employment. Now, as Afghanistan undergoes reconstruction, Marzari is aware of the opportunities that may be open to her daughters as they grow up in the new Afghanistan. “Both my sons and my daughters are in school. Girls should be educated as well because the government will need them.”
Marzari is proof that the opinions of Afghan women should be taken into consideration as Afghanistan continues the process of reconstruction. She demonstrates her understanding of the current security situation in Afghanistan and prioritizes national police- and national army-training as a means of increased security. Women like Marzari are hopeful that they and their daughters will have increased opportunity to voice their opinions and take an active role in securing the future of Afghanistan.
Safiya, 17 – Safiya is a 17 year old girl living in Nijro province. She is in school and has been with Women for Women International – Afghanistan (WfWI-Afghanistan) for almost one year. Safiya represents a new generation of Afghan women, allowed to pursue an education and who at nearly 18 remains unmarried with no children. Safiya is aware of this new role, she says, “[Afghanistan] has changed a lot, especially in education.”
But she and her family continue to live in debilitating poverty. While she has access to healthcare, education and other services and commodities, Safiya must walk at least 40 minutes to her school and to the nearest health clinic. Forced to live on rental property, Safiya says of her situation, “We have economical problems. [My family needs] a house, it is very urgent.”
Safiya is becoming educated about women’s rights and voting from Women for Women. Not yet 18, she is not legally allowed to acquire a voting card yet but plans to when she is old enough. But Safiya is wise despite her youth. “Even though I am not completely 18, [my] view point is a good leader is a person who serves his homeland.” Her greatest wish for the next ten years in her homeland is for the restoration of peace and security. “We have 50 percent security in Afghanistan, not 100 percent. When our national police and national army really serve our homeland then security will improve; if they continue to take bribes, it is not possible.”
Safiya’s education has increased her awareness of the gender disparities Afghan women face. “Both men and women have equal rights, but usually men do not accept this matter.” This is the reality for most Afghan women. Despite strides made in women’s access to education and being given the legal right to vote, Afghan society often dictates otherwise. “Sometime it is very difficult for women, like when men force them to do something and they don’t want to…and even they are not allowed getting out of the house.” Knowledgeable young women like Safiya inspire hope in the eyes of many Afghan women. She is well educated and confident in her vision for the future of Afghanistan. Continuing to invest in the futures of women like Safiya help to ensure a stronger future for Afghanistan and for Afghan women.
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2008 Afghanistan Report
By Shannon Madlin - Online Marketing Manager, June 24, 2009 06:16 PM
Amplifying the voices of women in Afghanistan
Attachments:
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Update: Two Women in Afghanistan
By Shannon Madlin - Noor and Malai's Story, April 18, 2009 05:28 PM
Noor and Malai's Story
Afghan women are determined for their daughters to have more and better choices in their lives. Noor was just 12 years old when she was married to a man 28 years her senior. Today, at age 35, she has nine children. Four are daughters, and Noor is determined they will have a different kind of future. Through Women for Women International’s vocational training program Noor has learned skills that will help her earn extra income, which she plans to use to pay for her daughters’ school expenses.
In 2008, a total of 4,434 Afghan women enrolled in Women for Women International’s yearlong sponsorship program. Women receive letters and financial support from their sponsors. They meet in groups of 20 for rights awareness training facilitated by local women. They learn to read and write. Some are trained as health and traditional birth attendants. Women entrepreneurs can learn vocational and business skills and have access to small loans which they pay back as their projects grow.
Like Noor, most women begin the program illiterate and with no way to earn money. These obstacles, along with traditional views about gender roles, keep women from realizing their full potential.
In the evenings when the housework is complete, Noor shares with her daughters what she has learned through her trainings – not just work skills and literacy, but also about the rights of women as documented in their nation’s constitution.
Before her Women for Women International training Malai, age 20, didn’t know she had the right to participate in elections. Neither did her husband. To help Afghan men understand how the advancement of women has a positive effect on families and communities, Women for Women International launched the Men’s Leadership Program in 2008. So far, 20 male community leaders have been trained to instruct their peers about the negative effects of restricting women’s participation in economic and social spheres.
Though progress is slow and difficult, Noor is dreaming, “I wish for my daughter to finish school and then marry a man she loves.” Some women have already made life-changing decisions. Raissa negotiated with her daughter’s future in-laws that they will allow her to complete her education. “I think my daughter will have a happy life in the future.”
Afghan women are determined for their daughters to have more and better choices in their lives. Noor was just 12 years old when she was married to a man 28 years her senior. Today, at age 35, she has nine children. Four are daughters, and Noor is determined they will have a different kind of future. Through Women for Women International’s vocational training program Noor has learned skills that will help her earn extra income, which she plans to use to pay for her daughters’ school expenses.
In 2008, a total of 4,434 Afghan women enrolled in Women for Women International’s yearlong sponsorship program. Women receive letters and financial support from their sponsors. They meet in groups of 20 for rights awareness training facilitated by local women. They learn to read and write. Some are trained as health and traditional birth attendants. Women entrepreneurs can learn vocational and business skills and have access to small loans which they pay back as their projects grow.
Like Noor, most women begin the program illiterate and with no way to earn money. These obstacles, along with traditional views about gender roles, keep women from realizing their full potential.
In the evenings when the housework is complete, Noor shares with her daughters what she has learned through her trainings – not just work skills and literacy, but also about the rights of women as documented in their nation’s constitution.
Before her Women for Women International training Malai, age 20, didn’t know she had the right to participate in elections. Neither did her husband. To help Afghan men understand how the advancement of women has a positive effect on families and communities, Women for Women International launched the Men’s Leadership Program in 2008. So far, 20 male community leaders have been trained to instruct their peers about the negative effects of restricting women’s participation in economic and social spheres.
Though progress is slow and difficult, Noor is dreaming, “I wish for my daughter to finish school and then marry a man she loves.” Some women have already made life-changing decisions. Raissa negotiated with her daughter’s future in-laws that they will allow her to complete her education. “I think my daughter will have a happy life in the future.”
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Women for Women International's Afghan Field Report
By Shannon O'Donnell - Online Marketing Manager, February 17, 2009 11:34 AM
We've created a video to give an update about how Women for Women International is working in Afghanistan, and to demonstrate the impact of the programs in Afghan communities.
Links:
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Portraits of Afghan Women on PBS
By Shannon O'Donnell - Online Marketing Manager, February 17, 2009 11:34 AM
Women for Women International's work in Afghanistan was featured as part of a PBS Wide Angle documentary, A Woman Among Warlords.
Links:
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Read Country Director Sweeta Noori's Letter to the Editor of NY Times
By Shannon O'Donnell - Online Marketing Manager, February 12, 2009 10:00 PM
To the Editor:
Re “In Poverty and Strife, Women Test Limits” (news article, Oct. 6):
The fact that women are making significant progress in some parts of Afghanistan is good news that confirms our own experience in the country.
The province of Bamian will benefit from women taking on new roles as breadwinners, peacekeepers and government leaders; indeed, the area’s relative stability indicates that it already has. In many other areas the change is far less visible and comes in small but significant steps, with women learning skills and finding opportunities to support their families.
But we cannot let these encouraging developments overshadow the life-threatening dearth of health care, education and basic human rights for the majority of Afghan women. Stabilizing Afghanistan must include teaching women how to read and write, develop sources of income and become more active in public life.
Bamian shows that change is possible, even in the most challenging environments. Sweeta Noori
Afghanistan Country Director
Women for Women International
Washington, Oct. 8, 2008
Re “In Poverty and Strife, Women Test Limits” (news article, Oct. 6):
The fact that women are making significant progress in some parts of Afghanistan is good news that confirms our own experience in the country.
The province of Bamian will benefit from women taking on new roles as breadwinners, peacekeepers and government leaders; indeed, the area’s relative stability indicates that it already has. In many other areas the change is far less visible and comes in small but significant steps, with women learning skills and finding opportunities to support their families.
But we cannot let these encouraging developments overshadow the life-threatening dearth of health care, education and basic human rights for the majority of Afghan women. Stabilizing Afghanistan must include teaching women how to read and write, develop sources of income and become more active in public life.
Bamian shows that change is possible, even in the most challenging environments. Sweeta Noori
Afghanistan Country Director
Women for Women International
Washington, Oct. 8, 2008
Links:
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American Express Members Project
By Shannon O'Donnell - Online Marketing Manager, September 29, 2008 09:17 PM
Women for Women International's project Help Women and Children Survivors of War Rebuild, makes it to the top 5 in the American Express Members Project. To nominate this project for potential funding, please go to Help Women and Children Survivors of War Rebuild. Please click the link on our project and click Nominate — and ultimately vote so we may share in the $2.5 million in funding from American Express. If you do not have an American Express website login, just click “Guest Member” provide a little information and you can then Nominate and vote.
http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/AM0MV5
Thanks for your Support!
http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/AM0MV5
Thanks for your Support!
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Job Skills Training in Afghanistan
By Women for Women International - Project Sponsor, June 08, 2007 12:18 PM
Enabling women to begin and maintain their own businesses helps raise a woman’s self-esteem, the respect she gets from her community, and her ability to support herself and her family. Here are the stories of two women survivors of war.
Bringing Beauty Back to Afghanistan: Pashtoon’s Story
Pashtoon, an Afghan woman, grew up dreaming of one day owning her own beauty parlor business. The Kla Klan resident understood that running her own business could provide a steady income that would protect her and her family from the devastation of poverty and unemployment. She dreamed of
achieving self-reliance and devoting herself to work she enjoyed and was good at. War shattered Pashtoon’s dreams. When the Russians invaded Afghanistan in 1978, Pashtoon realized the fight for survival for herself and her family would replace her dreams of independence and economic stability. Soldiers occupied her village and forced Pashtoon and her family out of their home. They sought refuge in Afsar where life became increasingly painful.
Her husband was killed in a rocket attack in 1992, leaving her the sole breadwinner for her two sons and two daughters. Pashtoon also mourned the loss of three close relatives. She became the only woman left in her family to raise her motherless grandson, whose parents had died during fighting in the area. Her world was slowly unraveling. Pashtoon had little time to grieve the tragedy of her life. She knew she could not stop fighting for her family. Her two sons had fortunately survived and found work. But the money they made was not enough to support the entire family. Every day, Pashtoon and her children struggled simply to feed themselves.
In December 2004, Pashtoon learned that Women for Women International was giving aid and support to socially excluded women living in and around Kabul. Pashtoon soon discovered that the Afghanistan Chapter offered beauty parlor training. She was elated. She hoped that learning these skills would bring employment and end all the years of impossible struggle. Her family would have food; her grandson, a child born during horrifying destruction, would have a future.
Pashtoon’s new- found joy and enthusiasm is apparent to anyone who sees her working with other women in the program. In joking with her friends, she laughs and says, “You are so young. Oh don’t think that I seem old and have no interest in beauty parlor! See I do! And you will soon see me with my own shop. This is my hope and pride.” Having survived the war, Pashtoon’s dream meant more to her than before. Now, after years of carrying the weight of war and the exhaustion of being the sole provider for those she loved, she could dream of moving beyond survival to self-sufficiency. Hope for survival had kept her going, but hope for a vibrant future was something she had nearly forgotten. For the first time in a long time, she renewed her ambition and the passion of her past. Her dream was alive again. Pashtoon has changed dramatically since joining Women for Women International and participating in rights awareness and job skills training. She is now aware of the strength and power behind her own choices. “Now, I know that women can learn about their rights which have been ignored by society. These rights can get women out of calamity. This makes me so hopeful for my future.”
Starting Over: Azada’s Story
Azada, another woman, was forced to seek refuge in Pakistan in 1990 due to the violence in Afghanistan. Azada’s husband refused to go with her. She had to live with her father’s family and try to come and she was surrounded by 13 people living without enough to eat and without the means to change their lives.
She gave her husband an ultimatum. He could either move in and support his children or divorce her. He chose the first; Azada accepted because she was terrified that she could not support her daughters independently. Economic dependency convinced her to try to start a new life with the man who had left her alone and hungry. Her husband only stayed for one year.
She asked for a divorce and her husband gave in. Azada was a free woman, but her independence only existed on paper. In reality she was still bound to a man – she lived with her father and it was his skills in selling firewood that kept her alive.
Women for Women International found Azada unemployed and living with little hope. She soon learned a new skill, making jewelry, and found employment. She could stand, independent and proud, knowing that economic dependence would never again keep her shackled in poverty or bound to a man. Azada worked hard and took pride in her education. Now Azada is an assistant instructor, leading young women out of poverty and into a thriving future. Azada says her future “will be a lesson for the men in my community. They will see that women who are kind and patient still are able to make their own decisions and be independent.” Her daughters know that they have an empowered woman to care for and protect them.
Bringing Beauty Back to Afghanistan: Pashtoon’s Story
Pashtoon, an Afghan woman, grew up dreaming of one day owning her own beauty parlor business. The Kla Klan resident understood that running her own business could provide a steady income that would protect her and her family from the devastation of poverty and unemployment. She dreamed of
achieving self-reliance and devoting herself to work she enjoyed and was good at. War shattered Pashtoon’s dreams. When the Russians invaded Afghanistan in 1978, Pashtoon realized the fight for survival for herself and her family would replace her dreams of independence and economic stability. Soldiers occupied her village and forced Pashtoon and her family out of their home. They sought refuge in Afsar where life became increasingly painful.
Her husband was killed in a rocket attack in 1992, leaving her the sole breadwinner for her two sons and two daughters. Pashtoon also mourned the loss of three close relatives. She became the only woman left in her family to raise her motherless grandson, whose parents had died during fighting in the area. Her world was slowly unraveling. Pashtoon had little time to grieve the tragedy of her life. She knew she could not stop fighting for her family. Her two sons had fortunately survived and found work. But the money they made was not enough to support the entire family. Every day, Pashtoon and her children struggled simply to feed themselves.
In December 2004, Pashtoon learned that Women for Women International was giving aid and support to socially excluded women living in and around Kabul. Pashtoon soon discovered that the Afghanistan Chapter offered beauty parlor training. She was elated. She hoped that learning these skills would bring employment and end all the years of impossible struggle. Her family would have food; her grandson, a child born during horrifying destruction, would have a future.
Pashtoon’s new- found joy and enthusiasm is apparent to anyone who sees her working with other women in the program. In joking with her friends, she laughs and says, “You are so young. Oh don’t think that I seem old and have no interest in beauty parlor! See I do! And you will soon see me with my own shop. This is my hope and pride.” Having survived the war, Pashtoon’s dream meant more to her than before. Now, after years of carrying the weight of war and the exhaustion of being the sole provider for those she loved, she could dream of moving beyond survival to self-sufficiency. Hope for survival had kept her going, but hope for a vibrant future was something she had nearly forgotten. For the first time in a long time, she renewed her ambition and the passion of her past. Her dream was alive again. Pashtoon has changed dramatically since joining Women for Women International and participating in rights awareness and job skills training. She is now aware of the strength and power behind her own choices. “Now, I know that women can learn about their rights which have been ignored by society. These rights can get women out of calamity. This makes me so hopeful for my future.”
Starting Over: Azada’s Story
Azada, another woman, was forced to seek refuge in Pakistan in 1990 due to the violence in Afghanistan. Azada’s husband refused to go with her. She had to live with her father’s family and try to come and she was surrounded by 13 people living without enough to eat and without the means to change their lives.
She gave her husband an ultimatum. He could either move in and support his children or divorce her. He chose the first; Azada accepted because she was terrified that she could not support her daughters independently. Economic dependency convinced her to try to start a new life with the man who had left her alone and hungry. Her husband only stayed for one year.
She asked for a divorce and her husband gave in. Azada was a free woman, but her independence only existed on paper. In reality she was still bound to a man – she lived with her father and it was his skills in selling firewood that kept her alive.
Women for Women International found Azada unemployed and living with little hope. She soon learned a new skill, making jewelry, and found employment. She could stand, independent and proud, knowing that economic dependence would never again keep her shackled in poverty or bound to a man. Azada worked hard and took pride in her education. Now Azada is an assistant instructor, leading young women out of poverty and into a thriving future. Azada says her future “will be a lesson for the men in my community. They will see that women who are kind and patient still are able to make their own decisions and be independent.” Her daughters know that they have an empowered woman to care for and protect them.
Want to support this project's continued work?
Women for Women International Wins Humanitarian Prize
By Women for Women International - Project sponsor, September 15, 2006 06:23 PM
Women for Women International in Washington, D.C., has been named the winner of the 2006 Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which comes with a $1.5 million award, one of the largest monetary prizes, in any category, in the world.
Founded in 1993 by Zainab Salbi — who survived years of strife in Iraq — Women for Women International (WWI) works with female survivors of war and conflict in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sudan. Picking up where humanitarian aid leaves off, WWI has served more than 70,000 women, assisted 380,000 family members, and distributed approximately $28 million in direct aid and micro-credit loans. The organization also operates a sister-to-sister program and a letter exchange that matches female sponsors with women who have lived through similar conflicts; its field offices are staffed almost entirely by country nationals. Salbi said the prize money will serve as a challenge gift for a $6 million campaign to build permanent safe women's centers in countries in which WWI operates.
"Women and children bear the major burdens of the unprecedented number of wars and civil conflicts raging worldwide and are often left to rebuild their lives without the basic necessities for survival or a viable means to earn a living and take care of their families," said Steven M. Hilton, chairman and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. "Women for Women International has demonstrated that it can create change and stability within a society by providing women survivors with the tools and resources to rebuild their lives. The organization also gives women the training and confidence to engage in their communities' and ultimately their nation's economic, political and social structures."
Founded in 1993 by Zainab Salbi — who survived years of strife in Iraq — Women for Women International (WWI) works with female survivors of war and conflict in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sudan. Picking up where humanitarian aid leaves off, WWI has served more than 70,000 women, assisted 380,000 family members, and distributed approximately $28 million in direct aid and micro-credit loans. The organization also operates a sister-to-sister program and a letter exchange that matches female sponsors with women who have lived through similar conflicts; its field offices are staffed almost entirely by country nationals. Salbi said the prize money will serve as a challenge gift for a $6 million campaign to build permanent safe women's centers in countries in which WWI operates.
"Women and children bear the major burdens of the unprecedented number of wars and civil conflicts raging worldwide and are often left to rebuild their lives without the basic necessities for survival or a viable means to earn a living and take care of their families," said Steven M. Hilton, chairman and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. "Women for Women International has demonstrated that it can create change and stability within a society by providing women survivors with the tools and resources to rebuild their lives. The organization also gives women the training and confidence to engage in their communities' and ultimately their nation's economic, political and social structures."
