A brief narrative report on
Vocational Training Center for
Afghan Women
Kabul, Dec 2015
OPAWC is proud to have national and internationals support for continuing its
activities in supporting women find their position in the community.
OPAWC expresses its deepest thanks to all supporters of VTC, with your supports
you have lightens the way and lives of these poor and miserable women of
Afghanistan.
Address:
Organization of Promoting Afghan Woman Capabilities (OPAWC)
Registration No. In Afghanistan: 288/2005 - in Pakistan: F.5(5)-AR-II/2005
OPAWC99@gmail.com,
www.opawc.org
Main Office
OPAWC
Sector A, Khoshal Khan Mina
Kabul
Afghanistan
Phone: +93-706399783
Digital: +93-572055719
General Information
Project Title: Vocational Training Center for Women
Project Location: Afshar District, Kabul
Donor: SAWA- Australia and other supporters
Project Name: VTC (Literacy Section)
Beneficiaries: 300 women and young girls
Allocation Period: January 2015-Dec015
Allocated Budged: $39150
Brief Information:
Afshar District is one of the poorest areas in Kabul city where warlords are still in power;
this area with the help of OPAWC centers is observing changes in the lives of its people.
OPAWC working continuously in this area to help people come out of the misery and
make their destiny themselves.
The activities in OPAWC centers going on in according to the plan.
Literacy and vocational courses:
The Literacy and vocational training classes are full and the activities are going
smoothly. Soon some of the students will be graduated in few months and will have their
Merit Certificates and new ones will replace them.
Computer and English classes in OPAWC Centers:
We have been able to establish an English class in the Literacy center for 70 women in
two shifts but not a computer class yet. There is a strong interest in these two fields. We
are in search of a fund to establish a computer lab for these women attending the Literacy
classes too.
But in the Handicraft center we do have an English and Computer classes for the women.
The students who are attending the English and Computer classes are happy to have
access to these courses. They have learnt the office program and are able to work by
themselves on a computer. They told their teacher that they are able to teach others the
things they have learned in the center. As soon as they finished their primary education in
English and Computer; they will be trained on how to use online websites and how to
upload a document. They are waiting enthusiastically to start this activity.
Meetings:
Office:
OPAWC holds meeting with all its staffs once a month. In this meeting one member is
selected to work as mediator and writer, whose responsibility is to write down all the
issues. Each member gives brief information about her/his class or activity. What has
been done what not, what are the progresses and what the problems they face are?
The aim for these meetings are to be informed about the transparency of the activities, to
search better ways in case any problem arise for better implementation of the project.
At the end of the meeting all agree on main discussed issues and put their signatures at
the bottom of the paper.
Women committee meetings:
Women committees in women centers are active and holding their meetings regularly
every 15 days.
Significant changes have been seen in the ways and attitudes of the women in the
committee. They are progressing day by day and are capable of solving the violence
cases of their families and neighbors. They are happy to see changes in their lives and the
ability they found to help others.
The topics of discussion in these months are as follow:
- Forced marriage
- Two Heritage cases
- Kidnapped of a young girl
- Brutal killing of Farkhunda
- Domestic violence
- Divorce case
Activities in the Centers:
Celebration of International Women's Day in VTC
International Women's Day, March 8, is an occasion marked by women's groups
around the world.
OPAWC celebrated the Women’s day in the yard of VTC. It was totally arranged by
students themselves. Several poems, texts and drama were presented by the students.
Latifa Ahmady the director of OPAWC was happy to see the progress of the students,
Ahmady praised the students and said that," we women do not want to be greaten by a
flower or by a scarf which is mostly given by the government; we want practical action
not slogans. I am sure if we put our hands together and continue our struggle for our
goals, educate ourselves and enhance our awareness, we have the capabilities to break the
chains of oppression".
Women’s day is celebrated in Afghanistan where gang rap and complicated deaths of
women has increased in the country and the government repeated its post commitments
towards women this year too.
Function of Graduation:
The 2015 function of graduation was celebrated in the Vocational Training Center on 8
May. 150 women received their merit and completion certificate.
The function was held in the basement of the neighboring building, where more than 400
guests, including high ranking members of the government, foreigner supporters,
members of the literacy department, heads of women and men shora (Afshar District
committees), students and their mothers participated.
The agenda of the function was totally prepared by students themselves, which shows
their grown confidence and progress.
Students presented songs that described the condition of women and told about their
country.
Latifa Ahmady, the Executive Director of OPAWC, presented a speech, where she threw
light on the overall conditions of the country and about women who suffered from
violence in different times, especially during the deterioration of women's conditions
after the arrival of international forces and their professed commitment towards women
during the last 14 years. Ahmady encouraged the women to show their presence and to
defend their rights. She mentioned Farkhunda's brutal killing in the capital of the country
and the sexual abuse of three years old girl in kundus province, crimes that will never
been forgotten for centuries. she encouraged the women to take action and never lose
hope in the face of the current conditions. She invited all women interested in becoming
educated or wanting to learn new skills to come to OPAWC centers and promised the
women that OPAWC is for them and will support them to stand on their own feet.
There were two marvelous theater performances, one in the opening of the function,
showing illiteracy and darkness overcome by light signifying education and peace and
inviting all women to follow the light of education and harmony.
In the second theater play towards the end of the function the students developed the
story of Farkhunda and showed how religious mullahs deceive the illiterate women and
all the people in order to receive money and act out brutality in the name of religion: A
girl rises up among the women wanting to help and make the women aware of the
mullah's character, she argues with the mullah, but the mullahs claim that they are acting
in accordance with the Quran. When the girl prevails over their arguments through her
logical words the mullahs call the people, shouting that she burnt the Quran and is a
prostitute. The illiterate men then attack the girl brutally, beat her and burn her alive. A
moving poem was heard in the background that brought the audience to tears, while the
flames of the fire consumed her body.
The function ended with the distribution of certificates and refreshments.
Workshop on medical tips
A one day workshop on medical advice was held for women in the VTC.
This workshop was run jointly by the staff and some outstanding students of the center.
Topics covered were benefits of drinking water for the kidneys, damage to bladders due
to not relieving urine for long time periods, harm from the use of non-prescription
medicine and others.
The workshop was simple but very useful for the women; they took part in discussions
and were happy to learn new issues.
OPAWC’s aims for arranging such workshops are to give the women a moment to think
differently, to have the chance to talk about different issues, to let them enhance their
knowledge and capacity, and to learn ways and methods how to defend themselves when
facing a problem.
Celebration of Teacher’s Day in VTC
International Teacher's Day was celebrated in VTC Kabul on 5th October2015.
The program was perfectly arranged by students themselves. They presented speeches,
poems and songs in praise of their teachers.
Mohammad Mauroof Rayan- Adm Director and Latifa Ahmady- Executive Director also
talked about important roles of qualified teachers in a community. They asked the
students to take active action and to use the opportunity they have to learn knowledge.
They talked about the current situation in 16 provinces where schools are closed and
there is no teaching opportunity because of war.
The present war condition has affected the celebration of teacher day in Afghanistan this
year. Although, some governmental institutions held the function.
This year the Education Minister- Assadullah Hanif Balkhi participated in one of the
function, while praising talented teachers, he vowed to address their situation by saying
these words, "Improving teachers' lives has been the top priority in our programs and I
will not leave any stone unturned to improve their lives all over the country”.
Last year, President Ashraf Ghani directed the concerned organizations to distribute land
to all teachers around the country but this has not yet been implemented. His words are,
"All governors and local officials will be directed to urgently act in distributing
residential land to teachers and we assure you that this process will be completed within
six month”.
Teacher condition is very worse in Afghanistan; many of them have been killed and
kidnapped in the insecure provinces.
Few months ago more than thousand of teachers closed the doors of the schools with
their strike against the corruption in the Ministry of Education, and for not receiving their
salaries on time.
Billions of dollars under the name of teacher’s salary went to the packed of Farooq
Wardak on his time. The teachers claimed that the Ministry of Education gave unreal
number of 11 millions of school students while 9. 5 millions of students have chances to
go to schools.
Distribution of gynecological certificate to women
Over a two-month period OPAWC arranged training session about gynecological issues
for the women of the VTC.
The training was held once a week in the VTC campus and run by Operation Mercy
trainers. The program was very important and interesting for all women.
Issues discussed included pregnancy, what women should do during this period, the
various problems that can occur such as bleeding, high blood pressure, swelling of face
and feet etc. The program stressed that such problems should be consider seriously.
Similarly, issues of nutrition during pregnancy, heavy activities, miscarriages etc. were
discussed in details.
On the last day some guests were invited from different sectors, among them Dr. Karima
Salak the Head of Kabul Women Affairs. Salak appreciated OPAWC's activities and
praised OPAWC for what OPAWC is doing to help women overcome the difficulties in
their lives.
Workshop on Violence against Women
Trainers from HAWCA, the Humanitarian Assistance for the Women and Children of
Afghanistan, held a workshop about Violence against Women in OPAWC's center for
the women on 10 November 2015.
The one-day workshop covered issues such as: What is violence, kinds of violence,
reasons for violence, why women are not responding to violence, forced marriage, and
world-wide efforts to eliminate violence against women.
The increase in the rate of violence against women is the result of a lack of laws to
defend women. The Law of Elimination of Violence against women (EVAW) that had
been formulated in 2009 during the Karzai period has been put aside and is not used.
Men consider violence as their legal right. This idea is helped by illiteracy and a lack of
knowledge about the importance of humane conduct. They think that because they are
physically powerful and stronger than women and because they are the economic
authority in the family women are dependent on them and it is their legal right to be
violent whenever something goes against their wishes.
The issue was of great interest for the women. They participated widely and put forward
their experiences of violence that they faced in their own family. Some suggestions were
given to them at the end of the program. Women expressed their thanks for providing
them with such a valuable workshop.
Workshop on children's rights
A one day workshop was arranged in OPAWC's Literacy Center on 8 November2015 by
partner organization HAWCA and many women participated.
The workshop described in detail what being a child means according to the Civil Law
and the Criminal Law. Many types of crimes against children were presented through
lectures and joint discussion.
According to the Civil Law a girl who is below 16 years and boys who are below 18 are
called a child. The punishment for those who commit a crime against a child was also
described.
The workshop was very illuminating and the women participated with interest in the
discussion.
OPAWC tries to make the women aware of all aspects of life through such workshops
and training.
At the moment around 800,000 children of 7-13 and 14 years of age are engaged in the
heaviest work and are sexually abused by war lords and commanders in the country.
These children including girls and boys are forced to dance and sing and are paid very
little. They are hired for washing vehicles, for begging, for selling drugs.
They are hired as workers in the brick furnaces and wood shops and are paid very little
money.
These children are deprived of going to school and are the only ones to feed their poor
families.
Participation of OPAWC in Different programs
1-Global uprising of One Billion Rising (OBR) on Violence against Women
14th February is the day where all civil societies and human rights institution raise their
voices in solidarity with the victims of violence around the world.
Afghanistan joined this campaign formally in 2013. Therefore on 14 February, this event
was celebrated in Afghanistan like in other countries.
OPAWC, whose target groups are women, also participated widely to show its solidarity
with women victims and raised its voice to eliminate all kind of violence and harassment
against women throughout the country.
This event was held and celebrated simultaneously in 34 provinces of Afghanistan by
AWN (Afghan Women Network). The Director of AWN, the Deputy Ministry of Women
Affairs and some high ranking members of the government participated and raised their
voices, too, by saying: “Today, in Afghanistan women are being isolated and their human
rights are being violated, and we must stop this; this happens only and only when both
men and women work together standing shoulder to shoulder and demand an end to this
phenomenon. One in three women on the globe is beaten or raped in her lifetime; that is
one billion women violated. One billion mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers and friends.”
The speakers said that this is an opportunity to remind the new government to undertake
appropriate strategies to tackle this problem for one half of the population of Afghanistan
, women who are at constant risk of harm and still subjected to violence, sexual
harassment and sexual assaults.
On behalf of the Afghan civil society organizations, AWN forwarded the demands to the
national unity government to take immediate concrete steps to ensure women’s safety and
freedom as citizens, to enable them to attain their rights.
2-Issue about Beggar women in Afghanistan in BBC Round table:
The BBC Persian service held a debate between the Deputy Ministries of Social Affairs,
Women Affairs and an OPAWC representative in Kabul.
Latifa Ahmady, the representative of OPAWC, said in this debate that the number of
beggar women in Afghanistan increases day by day. The representatives of the Deputy
Ministries argued that most of the women beggars are professionals and that they
developed the habit to beg; Latifa Ahmady rejected this and said that no woman is
interested in going for begging and self abuse in the streets, that we must find the true
reasons for begging and we know that it’s because of poverty, unemployment, insecurity,
inequality and corruption in the country, which has led the majority of women and
children to beg.
Ahmady asked the Deputy of Women Affairs to have a serious look into the affairs of
NGOs who misuse much of the funds under the pretext of supporting women, but the
Deputy said that unfortunately this right has not been given to her ministry; she added
that they even don’t know most of the NGOs working for women and receiving big
funds.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs there are 500 ,000 widowed women. The
Ministry representative did not say anything in relation to beggar women, but most of
these widows are begging
3- Conference on Women's conditions in provinces and districts:
Psychological problems, self immolations, no excess to health clinics and hospitals,
gynecological difficulties, illiteracy, drug addiction, unemployment, poverty and
financial problems have worsened the conditions of women in remote provinces and
districts such as Badakhshan, Noristan, Farah, Bamiyan and others.
Not long ago the new president Ashraf Ghani promised to give four posts in his cabinet to
women and to give more opportunities for women in all institutions of the government.
Instead of following up on these promises and increasing the chances of women in
government, the new government has reduced the posts for women and women's
participation in provincial and district councils from 25% to 20% . This action of the
government has put into question Ghani’s promises and commitment towards women.
In order to raise the voice of women for struggling for their rights, the Afghan Women's
Network (AWN) held a conference in Kabul where more than 600 members of the
provincial and district counsels were invited.
OPAWC members also participated in this conference and signed the banner which was
designed by AWN requesting the president to give women their rights as they constitute
half the population of the community.
4-Conference on Men’s Engagement in Women’s Empowerment and Rights
Achievement in Afghanistan
OPAWC participated in a conference “Men’s Engagement in Women’s Empowerment
and Rights Achievement in Afghanistan” on January 28, 2015.
The conference was arranged in a collaboration of Checchi & Company Consulting, Inc.
and the Afghan Women’s Network.
Checchi released a report of a study that examined ways men can be involved in and
contribute to women's rights work in Afghanistan.
The research was done in four provinces: Kabul, Bulkh, Herat and Nangerhar. Some
interviews were shown with men and women who agreed with the sentence: Can men as
fathers, brothers, husbands and colleagues be defenders of women’s rights?
Members of the audience including OPAWC did not fully accept the research and
rejected aspects of it, saying that research based on only four rationally developed
provinces as examples cannot be considered representative for the country. Afghanistan
has 34 provinces. In Ghor for example, a father committed sexual abuses on his daughters
and their sisters. The research will be accepted once it is done in remote and insecure
provinces.
OPAWC believes that some changes in the attitude of men towards women can be
observed in a few developed provinces such as Kabul and Herat, but this cannot represent
all provinces of Afghanistan.
Seminar on Advocacy
OPAWC members participated in a three day seminar held by the Afghan Women
Network (AWN).
In this seminar OPAWC staff learnt the concept of advocacy: How to pursue justice, how
to eliminate the exemption of abusers and criminals from , how to give psychological
comfort to the victims and how to secure a safe community and implement the law. They
were instructed in the three aspects of advocacy: Advocacy for the affected people,
advocacy with the affected people and advocacy through the people.
OPAWC’s aim for sending the staff to such seminars is to enhance the level of their
awareness regarding advocacy in order to use it as a tool to generate positive changes in
the lives of the people and to acquire knowledge how to defend those with problems.
This seminar was very useful, and OPAWC wants to convey these issues to all women in
the center through their instructors.
Conference on initiatives taken to eliminate violence against women and its impact
on the community
OPAWC representatives participated in a one day conference on initiatives taken to
eliminate violence against women and its impact on the community.
This conference held on 31th Dec2015 by HAWCA (Humanitarian Assistance for the
Women and Children of Afghanistan), European Commission and Womankind.
In this conference representatives from capital city and provinces, judicial members,
Head of Family forum and members from legal institution participated. Each participant
forwarded their own experience in their areas regarding different kinds of violence they
experienced.
The participants discussed several issues such as the existed problems between
government and non-government institutions regarding empowerment of women and
steps taken for elimination of violence against women, Role of civil society in
furtherance of violence cases against women, report on implementing of cases of
violence against women based on Law of EVAW (Elimination f violence against
Women) and its impact on community.
HAWCA provincial representatives give a brief report on their activities in West and East
regarding this issue which were appreciated by the audience and praised HAWCA for
their valuable activities.
Some of the participant urged that the law of EVAW is not effective because it has not
been approved by the Parliament yet and since it become in use the cases of violence
have increased. The answer to this argument was that the cases increased because people
in particular women become aware of their rights and their level of knowledge have
risen. In the villages and districts where there are not education and not awareness
programs there is no any case of violence.
The summary of the conference give a result that the working of the civil institutions
working for enhancing the education and knowledge of the women and their achievement
were effective and positive. All institution working in reducing violence against women
should continue their work even serious than the past.
Demonstration against war, for peace
International women activist including OPAWC participated in a demonstration against
war and for peace on 19 November 2015 in Bangalore, India. A peace dance performed
by a group of women form different counties attracted the attention of many people in the
demonstration. Some of the slogans used were: End the war, End the occupation, End
terror, End the war in the name of democracy and developments, we stand against all
forms of violence against women around the world, and War is Terror.
The demonstrators stood at four corners of the street with their slogans and placards. The
demonstration ended with every participant lighting a candle for the memory of all those
who lost their precious lives in the wars and for all victims of violence.
A song sung by all demonstrators at the end of the demonstration said: Building Brides
among the diverse-we are for you and you are for us -together we can make such a strong
harmony. Building bridges among the diverse - we are for you and you are for ustogether we can make such a strong harmony.
International women's workshop
OPAWC representative Latifa Ahmady participated in an international meeting of
women in Kolar, Bangalore,India.
The three day meeting was held during 17-19 November 2015 with the support of
Women in Black- Vimochana. More than 150 women activists from different parts of the
world participated in various workshops, including international members of Women in
Black (WIB).
A one day workshop was allocated to Afghanistan. The OPAWC representative presented
the true picture of the present situation in the country. She talked about the past 14 years
of invasion of Afghanistan and its outcomes for people, in particular for women, and also
about the current war between the Taliban, the ISIS and the government, She also
mentioned the local immigration of the homeless people and their bad situation in this
cold winter. She talked about insecurity and cruelty against Afghan women and injustice
in the country. Ahmady responded to the array of questions raised from the audience,
who felt sorry for the poor people of Afghanistan.
Other workshops included the themes of globalization of war and the economy, culture
and violence, virtual gender violence, the role of women in peace building, globalization
of solidarity for justice and peace, hate crimes, and issues of nuclear power
and environmental change.
Each workshop was very important and useful for the participants. The meeting was a
good opportunity for the women around the world to hear about each others' condition
and to exchange experiences with each other. It was characterized by a loving and
friendly atmosphere for all.
World court of women against
war, for peace
OPAWC participated in a world court of women against wars, for justice.
The court was held by Women in Black- Vimochana and Mount Carmel College,
Bangalore (India), in College premises on Monday, November 16,2015 from 9:00 am to
6:00 pm.
The program included personal testimonies, political contextual testimonies, testimonies
of resistance, movement testimonies and contributions from war and violence affected
women and juries.
OPAWC representative Latifa Ahmady threw a light on the war going on in Afghanistan
and the different types of violence that Afghan women facing nowadays and presented
some shocking recent incidents such as Farkhunda's and Rukhshana's cases.
The court ended with speeches from each jury condemning the present wars in the world,
in particular the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine.
.
Appeal
case
for
Farkhunda
OPAWC participated in a gathering against the latest brutal incident concerning women and
Farkhunda's case in the country.
This gathering was arranged by civil society institutions and the Afghan Women Network
(AWN) on 8 November2015.
OPAWC being a women organization considers it its responsibility to raise its voice for
violation of women's rights in the country.
The brutal killing of Farkhunda, who was accused for burning the Quran, in the capital city,
the stoning to death of Rokhshana in Ghor province for being not ready to marry an old man
and preferring to marry the man of her choice, the beheading of Shokria a young girl of nine
years, and many other innocent people of our Hazara nation has increased the anger of
women's institutions who are trying to struggle for a change.
The slogans of the gathering were:
Justice for Farkhunda is the immunity for women
we want justice for Rukhshana and Farkhunda
Solidarity of OPAWC with Shah Shaheed Survivors:
OPAWC consider its responsibility to share the pain and sorrows of its handcuffed people.
In this year few shocking incidents happen in which OPAWC was on the side of the people.
In Shah Shahid incident that happened on August and our staff were also targeted, OPAWC
went few times in Shah Shashid area where the heaviest attack happened which led to the
killing of more than 400 and more that 700 injuries. We announced our solidarity with the
poor people and tried to raise their voices through our media friends. The people claimed
that it was not a suicide attack but it was a bomb which has atom in its composition and they
said they have heard horrible sound like rocket along with sound of plane first and then the
explosion happened. They said USA has thrown this bomb on us. They have find out pieces
of the rocket as well, The National Security Forces also told that the material which were
used in that attack are not the simple materials only the powerful governments can have it,
but the corrupted government said no, it was a suicide attack. In any way few attacks were
very
heavy
which
caused
a
lot
of
districts and killing reticently. During this period OPAWC with the help of its human loving
supporters could support some of the wounded ones in hospital and provide shelters for
those who were totally homeless besides giving blood to the urgent cases of the people, most
of OPAWC staff and students went to the hospitals and provide their
bloods for the needy ones. The photos of two young girls who are killed are the cousins of
our hardworking literacy teacher Fahima.
First Literacy Forum Meeting( LIFE):
An OPAWC representative participated in the First Literacy Initiative for Empowerment
(LIFE) Forum Meeting on 25th August 2015.
In this meeting high ranking members of the ministry of Education - Deputy for Literacy
(DMoL) and many members of literacy institutions and supporters participated.
The Deputy for Literacy, H.E Muhammad Azim Karbalai, Presented updates on National
Literacy/ Provincial Literacy and District Literacy Committees.
There were several discussions by UNESCO representatives and DMoL on the National
Literacy Strategy Implementation Plan, also discussion on Compulsory Literacy for all,
and discussion on planning for the celebration of International Literacy Day (ILD).
Short presentations were given by each literacy institution including OPAWC who talked
about the latest achievement, which was appreciated by the audience.
OPAWC was critical of the presentation given by UNESCO and LIFE that suggested
thousands of literacy courses around the country, including insecure provinces.
OPAWC's objections, comments and suggestions met with opposition from the audience
and UNESCO's representative at first, but at the end of the program, after a long
discussion, everyone endorsed OPAWC's view personally, especially the Director of
Education in the Interior Ministry, Gen. Kohdamani.
OPAWC was asked to contribute a theater team to play in the International Literacy Day
but OPAWC refused.
2016 and beyond:
OPAWC hope 2016 be a year of peace, happiness and secure for all people in the world
in particular for Afghanistan’s Women.
OPAWC is in search of finding support to extend the VTC activities in other provinces
as well. Let’s hope for a better future.
OPAWC is in search of a new building for VTC. The reason is that we cannot work more
than few years in the same place, we have started our survey for selecting a place where
there is security for women to come to the center and also according to OPAWC priority
the area will be in need of the program.