Afghan girls ages 15-24 develop self-esteem, leadership skills and positive health habits through Ascend's experiential program. We create a safe space for girls to engage in activities to support their mental and physical health, life skills, engagement in her community and understanding of environmental stewardship. With the support of women leaders and their peers, girls unlock their potential, contribute to their communities, and thrive amongst other women.
Girls in Afghanistan, especially those twelve or older, face enormous hurdles in all areas of life, barred from accessing education, employment, and health care, and cut off from social interaction and personal care and development. The Global Gender Gap Index ranks Afghanistan last in gender equity. These deprivations are creating a crisis of depression among women who describe feelings of hopelessness and despair; contributing to an extremely high suicide rate among Afghan women.
Ascend invests in women's mental health by building self-esteem and confidence which has transformative effects on how women see themselves and engage with their families and communities. Trained female instructors create safe and sanctioned spaces for women to safely explore their health, leadership skills, environmental aptitude, and community engagement. Participation helps to build confidence, teamwork, and self-determination; characteristics that positively impact all areas of life.
Participants with Ascend become ambassadors of positive mental and physical health in the community and share their knowledge and skills with their peers, families, and communities, which in turn brings resources and opportunities for others. By investing in the training of local women and providing girls with early access to support networks of women, new avenues of learning and a sense of purpose, Ascend is helping to open doors for women in Afghanistan where too many have been shut.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).