canadian women for women in afghanistan

Join the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee (CASC)

and Ariana TV for a special presentation featuring:

Murwarid Ziayee is the Country Director of Canadian Women for Women in
Afghanistan, overseeing its literacy and teacher training projects in 12
provinces, and formerly with the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan

Mohammad Ishaq Faizi is a lawyer, manager of the Access to Justice
program and legal training at the international organization Global Rights,
and founder of the Dara Village Library, a community library and literacy
class in his home village

Murwarid and Ishaq will be visiting Vancouver from Kabul, and will discuss
some of the education initiatives they work on, provide updates on progress
in the education sector in Afghanistan, and share their experience in
advancing the human right to literacy for Afghans. There will be time for
questions and discussion. A selection of delicious Afghan appetizers,
traditional Afghan tea (shir chai), and other beverages will be served.

Tuesday October 12, 2010

6:00-8:00pm
The Red Fort Restaurant
1962 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC

Cost: $12.00 per person

RSVP is required as seating is limited. RSVP before October 2, 2010:

EMAIL projectdirector@cw4wafghan.ca or PHONE (604) 781-3151 and leave a message with your name, # of tickets, and email address.

How do ordinary Afghans feel about the long-term prospects for their country? Particularly for women in Afghanistan, the answer depends upon how much support the outside world can give. Efforts by groups such as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan are definitely having a good effect. Fakhria Ibrahimi, a Hazara woman who has high hopes for her embattled country, tells her story at the Minority Rights site:

I live in Kabul and am a member of the Hazara community, most of whom live in central Afghanistan. Our customs and culture are not so different from the Pashtun majority, but we are mainly Shia Muslims and speak Farsi. We also have some special words from the Mongolian and Turkish languages...

I work for an organisation called Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan which supports women in my country through education, capacity building, health care, handicrafts and libraries. My work involves collecting reports, documents and photographs of our local Afghan partners.

Many women access our services - word spreads fast through the neighbourhood networks and through social activities.

My work has shown me how open Hazara people are. When I knocked on the doors of Hazara families in small villages in the countryside and told them I was a photographer for an international organisation and would like to take photographs to send to Europe and America in order to show how life is in Afghanistan and build support, they accepted straight away. There has been a change, this would not have happened 10 years ago - Hazara people were very repressed when the Taliban were in power.

I am 32 years old. I completed my schooling in Kabul, but when the Taliban captured the city I went to Pakistan and continued my education at university in Peshawar. I studied medicine for two years but because of personal issues I couldn’t continue.

When I came back to Kabul after the fall of Taliban I took some classes on women and politics, and, as I was interested in photography I took courses on photography and filmmaking for women.

My family have always supported what I do. My husband in particular helps me a lot on my trips to rural areas. I wouldn’t be able to travel alone, so he comes with me.

Our partners in Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WA) have a number of events across Canada that we are happy to help publicize. Tell your friends!

Manitoba Chapter
   
WHAT:     First Annual Afghanistan Film Festival & Mini Afghan-Market
Co-Sponsored by Global College

WHEN:     Monday, March 8, 2010
?    Afternoon matinee:        
o    Enemies of Happiness - 4:00 pm    
?    Evening double feature:     
o    The Beauty Academy of Kabul - 6:00 pm
o    Afghan Star - 7:45 pm    

WHERE:
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall (3rd floor, Centennial Building), University of Winnipeg

PRICES:
Afternoon matinee is free - seating is first come, first served
Evening double feature – Regular Admission $12; Students (with ID) $7-
        
SALES:  
 * The Mini-Market will be selling beautiful, fair trade soaps, handicrafts and clothing crafted by Afghan women
        
* Afghan tea and dessert will be sold in the Hall foyer between films

EVENT SYNOPSIS:  Women’s stories of hope, hilarity and healing are brought into focus through three unforgettable documentaries that capture life in Afghanistan today – experiences that most Canadians never see. The Manitoba Chapter of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan is proud to present this film festival – a first-ever for Winnipeg – to mark International Women’s Day 2010 and the struggle for justice and human rights in Afghanistan.

We will be screening three documentaries: Enemies of Happiness, The Beauty Academy of Kabul, and Afghan Star. The goal of the event is to raise $2,000, which will support Afghan projects in partnership with Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, and to increase awareness within the Winnipeg community on women’s issues in Afghanistan.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Mariam Omar, Co-Chair, Manitoba Chapter: Email Manitoba@cw4wafghan.ca

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS:
McNally Robinson Booksellers
1120 Grant Avenue (Grant Park Mall)
(204) 475-0483
Lois Edwards
(204) 488-5099
Mariam Omar
(204) 452-0177
At the door, subject to availability.
 

OAKVILLE - Canadians in Support of Afghan Women

Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 17:30
Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre 2515 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, ON
A fundraiser for SAVIS (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services) and CSAW (Canadians in Support of Afghan Women)

Keynote Speaker: Sheila Copps

Musical Entertainment

Sale of Afghan Crafts; Book Sales; Silent Auction; Door Prizes and 5050 draw

TICKETS $45 (tables of ten available)
Available through SAVIS at (905) 825-3622

ATLANTIC CHAPTER - LAUNCH!

Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 19:00 - 21:00
 
Public Library,New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan/Freedom to Read Week Presentation
  
The Atlantic Chapter of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WAfghan) will be holding an information session at the New Glasgow Public Library on Thursday, February 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm.

Chapter Chair, Susan Hartley, will present information about CW4WAfghan and its efforts in Afghanistan and special guest speaker, CBC Radio's National Reporter, Stephen Puddicombe will present his illustrated talk "Censorship in Afghanistan".

All welcome to attend this public talk and information session.

The list of Taliban atrocities grows against those who provided hope to a nation. As reported on CTV (Female politician's murder a 'blow' to Afghan society), the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the brutal murder of a female member of Kandahar's Provincial Council, Sitara Achakzai, on Sunday afternoon. According to the report: