Blog: Afghanistan

Earlier this week, we showed you some statistics that illustrated the disparity in opportunity between women and men around the world. It can be overwhelming sometimes to address a big, global issue like this, but there's good news:

You can start making a difference right here, right now!

It's no secret that there is a global disparity between opportunities for women and men. Women in developing nations, or in areas of extreme poverty, are particularly vulnerable to the gender gap. 

This Friday is International Women's Day, and the theme this year is "Balance for Better." The statistics below illustrate the imbalance we see in some countries today. But at GHNI, we're hopeful that someday soon, we'll see a balance for women and men in opportunity, education, income, and security. 

This Friday, March 8, is recognized as International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day was first recognized by the United Nations in 1975, and it has been celebrated annually ever since.

Internationalwomensday.com describes the goal of this day as “celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.”

Recently, I visited our poplar tree project in Yakawlang. The trees are still growing taller, but they currently lack leaves.

Our exhibitions are excellent and going well in the Garden of Peace and Hope. In recent months, I had good exhibitions that included paintings, theater, handicrafts, and a fashion show with models. One event had to be postponed a week, but it was a wonderful exhibition with so many visitors that it was extended two more days so that all the villagers could visit. The next exhibition was in mid-December. On this day, all the paintings on public display were works by a very young girl who has waited for a long time to be showcased in the Garden of Peace and Hope.

Our Women’s Empowerment Centers (WEC) are run very well by our GHNI staff. The girl and boy students continue to regularly come to learn English. Now that the girls and boys are in the class together, they are enthusiastically attending in two class times. Those who are good in English come in first, and then others who are weaker come to the second class. 

Garden of Peace & Hope, Afghanistan

Women’s Empowerment Centers, Afghanistan

In November, the English class in the Women’s Empowerment Center (WEC) doubled in size because the boys grew interested to join our English class. Now our teacher Layla holds two class times. She tested the boys, and the first class is composed of the boys and girls who are more familiar with English. The second class is held for others who know little English.

Garden of Peace & Hope, Afghanistan

This fall, we hosted another art exhibition in the Garden of Peace and Hope. More than one hundred visitors attended the exhibition, including the deputy of ministry and some other officials. The works of seven young artists were displayed for two days in this exhibition featuring more than 45 paintings.

Women’s Empowerment Centers, Afghanistan

Samania, our GHNI staff person in our Women’s Empowerment Center (WEC) has conducted a survey and held meetings with local women in Bamyan. This was in order to begin literacy, health, and midwifery lessons, of which the latter two were their favorites.