WOHP

Stories of hope

Afghanistan has been at war for almost 30 years now and there is an entire generation who has grown up, knowing nothing but dependency on humanitarian aid.  This has been necessary, however, our work is focused on working with the poorest of the poor to strengthening individuals and families by helping them to discover ways to break this cycle of dependency and to restore their dignity as they grow to become independent and self-sufficient.  

We help them to learn sustainable life skills that will enable them to generate income to support their own families.  We do not believe that Afghanistan can recover to a peaceable state unless the people here are able to care take of themselves. Much of the unrest in Afghanistan stems from the lack of economic development and jobs.  We provide Afghan women with the education, life and vocational skills which empowers them to support their families.  

We aim to promote lasting change in the lives of the Afghan women we work with by helping them to regain their confidence and voices, by encouraging their families to recognize their value and by encouraging a sisterhood of women around the world who will be the back that these women stand on to rise above the ashes of their broken lives.   Women of Hope Project  provides Afghan women and their families a hope for a future.

Here are some of their stories

Marzia

Marzia was only 16 years old when the Taliban took control of Kabul.  Her family was very poor but her father had a job with the government and was able to support their family.  One night, bombs fell from the sky and hit the home they lived in.  Her two brothers, a sister and her father were instantly killed. Only Marzia, her small sister and her mother survived the attack.  In a moment, her mother became a widow during a time when women were not allowed to even leave the house without a male relative to accompany them. Marzia’s mother became sick and Marzia was forced to beg from her equally poor neighbors for food and fuel to cook with.  Marzia, with her mother and little sister, spent many cold and desperate nights with no food or wood to heat their bombed out shelter that was once their home. 
Marzia came to WOHP a year ago, asking to join the project. Her smile was enchanting but her desperation was obvious.  She brought a few small samples of her embroidery she had done to pass the lonely hours of isolation.  Her skill was phenomenal and we were happy to receive her.  Marzia is now one of our top producers. She is able to provide support for her mother and sister and has recently become engaged to be married. Once a young girl, living a truly hopeless existence, through her work with WOHP, Marzia is able to provide a good life for her mother and her sister and now has a hope for a bright and happy future.

Nagma

When I first began interviewing Nagma, I was shocked to find out that she had never been married, yet had a child. This is unheard of in Afghanistan. Then she explained. “The child is my cousin’s. He is a boy who lost his family when he was only ten days old. His father was in the hospital injured, and when the wife brought food, she was shot and killed on the way to the hospital.” Since then, the baby’s father (Nagma’s cousin) remarried another woman. “So, I am taking care of my cousin’s baby now.” Nagma, who is 35, heard about WOH from women she knows who were already involved. “Women talk about the centre to others a lot.” When asked about the importance of it in her life, she said, “It helps me a lot because I am living with my father who is sick, and not working.  My two sisters also live with me.”  Nagma introduced WOH to her sisters who have begun doing embroidery too. She says she receives mentoring from Betsy about twice a week “just to work out problems.” Before Nagma started working, she claims she was very poor and often took loans from shopkeepers. “Now I don’t need to do that and can manage my own life.  I’m renting a house and I am able to buy food with my earnings.” Her idea for better economic sustainability is simply to sell more stuff and different types of items from the embroidery project. “It will only help the women here and we need constantly more work.” Nagma said she knew of no “hurtful programmes” in Afghanistan for women, and then she added, “I only know that Betsy’s project is helping.” (from Dissertation by Brenda Steele)