“I took the pen and I wrote and everything changed. I learned that if I stand, everyone will stand, other women in my country will stand.”
-Roya, AWWP Participant
Your support helps Afghan women tell their stories through our online and on-the-ground workshops. Above, a writer in Kabul begins to write on the theme “Who Am I?”
Issue 29
December 2011
Greetings!
This year, Afghanistan was named the most dangerous place in the world for a woman to live. With the growing influence of the Taliban and other fundamentalist-influenced aggressors, what does the future hold for Afghan women? Will those who follow their hearts face more stonings? Will more women be denied the right to learn to read? Is there a way to let their voices of reason be heard above the din of extremists?
Our volunteer-based team is committed to ensuring that as many Afghan women as possible can freely express themselves. Despite deteriorating circumstances, AWWP continues to provide online and in-person workshops, laptops, internet service, books, a small internet café, and a world community of support. We believe these women’s voices must sound out within their homes, their communities and as part of the dialogue about the future of their country. And while they are being empowered on a daily basis to tell their own stories, they are improving their communication and computer literacy skills, speaking up about injustice, and learning skills they can use to make change in their country. Fully funded, our program costs only $2,500 per woman per year.
This year, AWWP
Served more than 80 women writers
Published over 500 pieces on our blog
Oversaw dramatic readings of the women’s stories before hundreds of people in several countries
Helped women develop the self-confidence to speak up and make changes in their own lives.
A Poem for My Country by Farahnaz
Women like Tabasom, who walks four hours to send us a poem; women like Masooma, who are home-bound and isolated from the world except for her ties to AWWP; women like Elay, who decided after writing for AWWP to run for parliament-and won: These women are all part of what we do. As Farahnaz said in her piece, A Poem for My Country, “I am possible …I will build you again, Afghanistan.”
But we need your help.
We have six women right now in the Taliban-dominated province of Ghowr who are waiting for laptops and internet service. They want to share their stories with us and with their sisters in Afghanistan. As someone who cares about the plight of women in Afghanistan and believes that to tell one’s story is a human right, we know you understand the importance of the work AWWP is doing.
We hold high hopes for these women. They will make the difference in the future of their country-and of ours. We’ve already seen the damage extremism from Afghanistan can bring on the world. When you make a donation, you are, in the words of AWWP participant Shogofa, helping bring peace to Afghanistan, voice by voice.
Thank you so much for your support of these remarkable women.
With our warmest best wishes to you and your family during this holiday season,
Rachel de Baere Masha Hamilton
Executive Director Founder/Board President
Performance in New York to Benefit AWWP
Comedians of New York for Afghan Women Writers
Performing the Writing of Afghan Women in the AWWP
This holiday season, honor your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues by giving a meaningful gift and helping AWWP at the same time. Your tax-deductible donation to the Afghan Women’s Writing Project, in your loved-one’s name name, will help bring positive change to the lives of Afghan women. No matter the amount, your gift will go toward the $2,500 it costs per woman per year to provide secure Internet centers and individual Internet service, laptops, writing workshops, books, and more.
AWWP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and your donation is fully tax-deductible.
Please do what you can this holiday season to help the women in Afghanistan who desperately want and need to share their stories with the world.
Be sure to visit awwproject.org to read and comment on our writers’ stories.
The right to tell one’s story is a human right.
If you would like information on the project, or how to donate money, time, computer resources, or any kind of technical/business expertise that might help promote and strengthen The Afghan Women’s Writing Project’s aims and goals, then please contact us at:
