As the situation for women in Afghanistan becomes more perilous, our writers’ stories reflect their growing anxiety. A strong piece published anonymously by one of our writers describes how her province has been taken over by Taliban. Mahnaz tells us how she deals with pressure from her brother to wear the burqa. Read about Zeinab’s unique experience growing up as an Afghan in Iran; and Roya tries to be a tourist in her home city of Kabul despite the disapproving looks of men. We also have Part II of I Am For Sale; our writer, with your help, was able to marry the man of her choice, but it has so far cost her brother three of his fingers.
Thanks to the hard work of all our volunteers, the work of our Afghan writers gains a broader audience each month. Our Facebook fans have increased by 12% since April. Donations have quadrupled. Visits to the AWWP website have increased 419%!
The outpouring of generosity continues to lift my spirits this summer. AWWP was awarded a grant this month from The Workers of St. Albans Board, a foundation that is part of the St. Alban’s parish church. Donations have poured in to the Ashton Goodman Grant, started by mentor Melissa Pritchard in honor of a female US soldier killed in Afghanistan. Please check out the grant.
Ann Rubin at afghans4Afghans sent three boxes of clothing to Kabul for our women writers and their families. This donation will definitely help keep folks warm while writing this winter. Thanks, Ann!
Used laptops generously donated by AWWP mentors and friends will be on their way over to Kabul soon. Our Afghan liaison, Tahmina Popal, is taking them with her upon her return to Kabul from San Francisco.
Enjoy your summer reading list and please take a moment to comment on the Afghan women’s writing on our website – it means so much to them.
All of my province is full of Talibs. Two days ago, two brothers were killed because the Taliban said they worked with the government. They were our relatives. One had two children, and the other left a pregnant wife. No one can talk, and all men wear beards.
Uncle sent word that if I didn’t appear before him and answer his questions in front of a jirga, he would cut off my brother’s fingers. A month passed in this way. Then I learned Uncle had cut off three of my brother’s fingers. I can’t tell you the pain I felt. I didn’t think I had my own fingers. It was my fault because I know my country; I know my family.
In my family, there were four children who needed schooling. At night, I talked with God. I asked him why the Iranians treated us that way. Were they not Muslims too? What was the difference between an Afghan child and an Iranian child? And why should an Afghan be prohibited from studying in such a way? I saw my dreams of becoming educated drifting away.
For me, the week ends with the stress of cooking, washing and cleaning the cruel dust. Fridays are the only off day to do so many things at home. My heart wants to escape and go sight-seeing. There are places to go, but there is a problem, and you know what the problem is?
Lori Lamothe is the author of Camera Obscura, a chapbook of poems (Finishing Line Press), and has published individual poems in Alaska Quarterly Review, Seattle Review, Third Coast, Notre Dame Review, 42 Opus, and other magazines. She has traveled in Europe, Russia and Pakistan.
My first real job after college was working for a small nonprofit in Washington, D.C. I still remember my boss calling me into his office and telling me to prepare a briefing book on Afghanistan. Afghanistan? I had a vague idea it was located somewhere near Iran, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. After several months spent holed up in the Library of Congress, I had gained a tremendous respect for the country and its people. I had also gained a real interest in bringing peace to that area of the world. Within a year I was on a plane to Peshawar, Pakistan, where I was able to tour a few of the refugee camps that housed the millions of Afghans who had been displaced from their homes during the war with the Soviets. I never forgot that trip, so when I heard about the Afghan Women’s Writing Project I was excited to have the chance to get involved with something that would bring me into contact with Afghan women again.
It has been a privilege to read the words of the brave women who are a part of this project. I am awed by their strength and by their talent as writers. It’s been more than a month since I printed out “River,” the first poem I received, and pinned it up on my bulletin board. One line stands out: “When I swim in my heart’s river/and I go to the deepest place/I know we are the same.” From the very beginning I felt a connection with these women who are so far away, living under such different circumstances. As the month continued, my sense of connection grew stronger and I gained even more respect for the writers in 102. One wrote about a teen-age girl forced to marry a much older man to pay for her brother’s crime, another sent in a beautiful love poem, still another wrote in a wonderful essay about what democracy means to her. Just this week a new writer sent in a retelling of her day that included staying up late with her friend talking and wanting to sleep late instead of helping her brother get ready for school. Sometimes I identify closely with what the writers are saying; sometimes I find it hard to imagine how difficult their struggles are. Either way, it is always a joy to read their work. Every day brings new ideas, new insights, new talent. Thanks so much for creating this project, Masha.
Susan Solomon teaches communications and writing at University of California, Irvine and was a Fulbright scholar in Armenia in 2008. She is a communications and public relations professional, has written non-fiction articles and books and looks foward to the publication of her first novel.
Working on the Afghan Women’s Writing Project was so immensely fulfilling. To think that I reached out to young women half a world away and helped give them a voice — it is amazing. But what is most wonderful about this project is the Afghan women who participate. Every time I sit down to communicate with one of these brave young women, I am in awe of their talent, ambition and pure courage. I make a point of telling my 13-year-old daughter about them every night because I want her to learn from their strength.
It has been an honor to be part of AWWP. My only regret is that my mentorship was just a month long. I only had a few weeks before introducing these beautiful writers to another lucky mentor.
Melissa Pritchard is an award-winning author of three short-story collections, three novels and a biography. She also teaches at Arizona State University.
Once my initial confusion about the technical process of mentoring was cleared up – thank you, Jordan and Elizabeth! – I began my mentorship. When I received my first polite, affectionate greetings from members of my writing workshop, I was thrilled. I almost felt as if I could hear their voices, glimpse their faces, through their words.
The weeks of my mentorship happened to fall during a time when many of the young women were in school, taking their final exams. Consequently, they were unable to spend time on their AWWP projects. I worked with several of the young women, however, and was moved by their stories, their intelligence, and their courage in taking part in an exchange that put them at risk. I thought of how powerful and inclusive this bridge of words between American and Afghan women writers is. I thought of how, as the “teacher,” one often learns from the “students,” and how in this case, I was humbled and moved to tears by their grace and brave eloquence.
As I worked with these women, reading their stories and essays, writing my responses, I found myself sharing my experience with friends, with students and former students. I put a link to AWWP on my Face book page and answered inquiries. At least two former MFA students, both terrific young writers, have already signed on as mentors, spreading the word about AWWP to their friends.
Contact AWWP:
For more information on the Afghan Women’s Writing Project please contact:
Christina Asquith, Director
Phone: 202.230.6729
Email: christinaasquith@yahoo.com
The Afghan Women’s Writing Project was begun as a way to allow the voices of Afghan women – too often silenced – to enter the world directly, without any mediation. This project is possible only because of the outstanding American women authors and teachers who generously donate their time and energy as mentors. Additionally, the tireless contributions of these volunteers:
Jeff Lyons, Creative Outreach Director
Stefan Cooke, Webmaster and website designer
Jordan Schneider, Online Magazine Editing Coordinator
Elisabeth Lehr, Workshop Program Coordinator
Rachel de Baere, Online Magazine Poetry Editor
Tahmina Popal and Tina Singleton, Liaisons in Afghanistan
Kathleen Rafiq and Heidi Levine, Photography
Valerie Wallace, Facebook and Newsletter Coordinator
Our inspiring partners are SOLA and the Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation; please visit their websites.
Donations
Online Donations for Afghan Women Writers:
Many of our students and women writers, especially outside of Kabul, cannot get to an Internet cafe due to security considerations. A laptop at home and a jump drive would allow them to write their pieces, and then ask a male relative to send the work at an Internet cafe. A $20 donation will buy a flash drive and $500 in donations will buy a laptop for our women writers. No contribution is too small. Thank you for considering it.
The Afghan Women’s Writing Project has filed for non-profit with 501 (c) 3 status. Your donation is tax deductible.
To stay informed about the latest news, events, and other developments with the Afghan Women’s Writing Project, please CLICK below and join our mailing list. We appreciate your support.
I ama female in the US military, and will shortly being making my first deployment to Afghanistan. Reading these stories have broken my heart. I hope that in some small way I am able to make a positive impact in the Afghan Women’s rights as I do my daily missions while there. For all those still writing, keep on posting. Your writing shows hope and that there is room for change and a better, more peaceful life in the future.
I ama female in the US military, and will shortly being making my first deployment to Afghanistan. Reading these stories have broken my heart. I hope that in some small way I am able to make a positive impact in the Afghan Women’s rights as I do my daily missions while there. For all those still writing, keep on posting. Your writing shows hope and that there is room for change and a better, more peaceful life in the future.
Kelly
here is my email… I am the coordinating editor please email me…jkschneidr@juno.com