By Alison Hendry | Administrative Assistant
Recently, AIL was asked by the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs to report on the impact AIL’s programs have had. We were amazed by our findings. Since beginning in 1996 through May 2009, 220,970 Afghans have been educated and received skills training in AIL schools, centers and post-secondary programs. 27, 619 Afghans (more than 70% female) have received teacher training or capacity-building training. 3,263 Afghans, mostly female, have participated in leadership and human rights workshops. Overall 6,778,026 Afghan lives have been directly impacted by AIL programs.
So far in 2009, AIL has held 9 leadership workshops for 313 Afghans, 263 of which were women. During these workshops, participants both large and small ways in which they can become leaders in their communities. Here are a few stories that participants in AIL’s leadership workshops have shared with us.
Fariba helped a friend have access to education. “I know a girl who was a high school student; but unfortunately her family did not like her going to school and eventually stopped her from attending. One day, she secretly came back to school and told me her story. I went to her home and used the leadership methods I learned from AIL to talk with her family. I gave her parents some examples of women in leadership roles and fortunately her parents allowed her to continue her education. I am so proud of myself for helping the girls so that now she can have a future.”
Rushan had this to say, “Soon after taking the leadership workshop I decided to start a project to play a role in my community. I opened a private literacy and sewing class for 17 women and girls in my home and I am trying to increase the number of my students. The leadership workshop opened my mind, and I want to educate other women so that they will be self confident.”
Shaima has found new ways to help support her family financially, “I am a teacher and it is very hard to meet my needs with my salary. After taking this workshop, I bought 20 hens which lay 20 eggs every day. My son takes the eggs to the market and sells them, which helps to support my family. The number of hens I own is increasing, as is the amount of income from their eggs. Thank you AIL for showing me that I could have an impact on my family.”
Our last story is about a female teacher named Shakiba. After participating in the workshop, she thanked the trainers, letting them know that the workshop was very helpful for her. After the workshops, she began designing sleepwear sets for children. Shakiba buys the cloth and designs the sleepwear and then gives the pattern and cloth to other women to sew it. She then sells the clothes at the market and is able charge good prices. Shakiba has created an income for herself, but has also created jobs for other women.
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