American 9/11 Widows Join CARE
To Empower Women In Afghanistan

© 2006 CARE/Sarah Buchanan
Since the fall of the Taliban, women in Afghanistan have struggled to regain their social status and rights. Sahera (shown left) knows this challenge all to well: In a culture where men are the decision-makers and bread winners, her quality of life fell sharply when her husband was killed by a mortar shell in one of the country's recent conflicts. On her own with five young children and her mother-in-law to support, Sahera had few options to feed her family. But through a project supported by the Beyond the 11th Foundation and several others, Sahera has joined more than 2,500 widows who have become self-sufficient by raising poultry.

The initiative, part of CARE's Humanitarian Assistance for the Women of Afghanistan program, provides women with chicks, feed and training to help them earn their own livelihood and care for their families. Since joining the program, Sahera has been able to earn income by selling eggs, and the diets of her children have improved as they are able to eat fresh eggs every day. The extra money means Sahera's daughters can attend school for the first time. Sahera also attends CARE-supported literacy classes and takes part in a savings and credit group. "Before I started in the program, I could not read," Sahera explains. "Now I can read the signs in the market and help my children with their schoolwork."

Sahera's success mirrors that of over 4,000 widows who have completed vocational training through the HAWA program. Offering courses in tailoring, carpet weaving, food processing, cosmetology, driving and leather making, among others, HAWA provides the neediest Afghan women with income-generating skills to support themselves and their families. Nine-month literacy courses are provided for illiterate women, who make up the majority of participants. Savings and credit groups allow the widows to pool their funds, giving them access to loans for small businesses and teaching them how to manage money. --CARE

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3:53 PM - Sep. 27, 2006 - comments {0} - post comment
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