“Project Independence: Women Survivors of War” Has Begun in Afghanistan -- Economic and Social Development at Work!

March 2004

Dear Sister Soroptimists,

Imagine this: twenty women showing up for their first day for of a one year program offering education and support provided by Soroptimist International members via our partner, Women for Women International. This program promises to be an opportunity for these women to get education about human rights, basic life skills, job skills, a small stipend and the support of other women who have also endured the consequences of war. These women are named Farida, Singla, Totya, Alozai, Sharitu, Aziaullah, Norami, Rahima, Noria, Sima, Zarmina, Babajana, Bakht, Khaddij, Saira, Khadifa, Muimana, Georgina, Zainaba, Aziz, Mariam, Farima, and Gulpari. Our group participants range from ages 18-50 years-old -- most being in their 20’s and 30’s. They have 77 children amongst them -- one woman has ten! Some of the women are still young and live with their parents and others live separately with their famililes. The description of the situation for many of these women is similar:

Mariam is currently recovering from the turmoil and violence she has lived through in Afghanistan. She and her family are fortunate to have basic housing, although they share a small house inadequate to meet their needs. She is currently unemployed and badly in need of assistance. Without a sufficient source of income she struggles daily to meet her family’s most basic needs. She is looking forward to the formal income-generating skills training she will be receiving.

Over the next year, twenty members of Soroptimist International -- Whittier in California (SIA) are Club Group Coorespondents with these twenty Afghan women. They will write letters of support throughout the year -- and through these letters we will learn about the progress they are making in their program as well as more details about their lives, challenges and joys. Some of this information will be posted on the website, so that members worldwide can keep track of the women we are helping. With the help of Soroptimist members and clubs worldwide, we will hopefully have a group of Club Group Coorespondents for each Project Independence group. We hope that this will be a very simple and rewarding job: to write four to twelve letters in a year via email or regular post to a new sister across the globe.

I also wanted to share with you a story recently published in Women for Women International’s newsletter, Outreach. It tells the story of Nadia, an 18 year-old women who has graduated from Women for Women International’s program in Afghanistan. I think it tells so much more about the situations that women in Afghanistan face:

Nadia is an 18 year-old girl from Afghanistan, who has been living as a man for the last two years. Everyone who knows her assumes she is a man. Only her family and one of her teachers know her true identity. Nadia was confidentially referred to Women for Women International, and it is only at our Kabul offices that Nadia feels she can safely ba a woman and engage with other women. We are keeping her secret.

Nadia is living as a man out of necessity. She must support her family. Her father is mentally ill and partially paralyzed, and her brother died in battle. There are no other men to support and provide for her and her family. Nadia is also disfigured. After a rocket struck her home, she lost as ear. As a woman, she has virtually no access to work or any way to legally earn a living. Yet, she will not consider publicly living as a woman and returning to her normal life, until her father’s paralysis improves , and he is better able to support the family. She argues that she has a moral responsibility to step in as her family’s caregiver and provider.

Nadia’s spirit is remarkably strong, given the horrible situation she and others like her, fin hemselves in today in all too many places. Most striking si the fact that what may seem like an overwhelming burden to many, is not insurmountable to Nadia. Today, Nadia is working, going to school and attending Women for Women Internatioanl’s rights awareness and leadership education classes. She also is attending vocational skills training where she is learning how to cut semi-precious stones into beads for jewelry. This gives Nadia a highly marketable skill in Afghanistan that she can use to support her family. Nadia’s resilience stands as a testament to her courage and fortitude and reflects what is at the heart of Women of Women International – facilitating the path from victim to survivor to self-reliance.

Recently, I received another update on Nadia. She excelled in her bead-making class, and was hired by her instructor to be a jewelry trainer’s assistant. Now Nadia is able to work during the day to support her family and continue her education at night. She has even gained enough confidence from the program to want to once again live and dress as a woman and as herself.

This Quadrennial Project -- Project Independence: Women Survivors of War -- is a personal project. It affects women, one person at a time. I recently read this quote and it reminded me of our HUMAN OBLIGATION to help our sisters -- be they at home or abroad:

“Human beings are like parts of a body, created from the same essence. When one part is hurt and in pain, the others cannot remain in peace and be quiet. If the misery of others leaves you indifferent and with no feelings of sorrow, you cannot be a human being.” Saadi, 13th Century Persian poet.

Soroptimists are human and with this project are able to truly affect women who are suffering. Please bring these stories to your clubs.Explore the website, READ the Club Protocol. Be Educated about Project Independence: Women Survivors of War, so that you can ADVOCATE and ACT as a “Global Voice for Women.”

For more information contact your Federation Quadrennial Project Liaison or me at dawnmarie.lemonds@gmail.com