It’s been a busy couple of months for the tireless writers of AWWP, who have been producing more wonderful pieces of writing.Read what happens when a second wife is brought into the home in Part 2 of Zohra’s story by Pazika. Visit a women’s prison in Herat Province with Seeta and read Lima‘s reaction and analysis of “The Sorrow of War” by Bao Ninh. Mahnaz shares a magical evening in Mashhad at a favorite place that fills her with love when her heart is heavy, and Fariba pays tribute to a supervisor whose dedication and hard work helped her become the professional she is today.
March brings Mahnaz‘s 3-part photo essay, “Snapshots from Home,” which begins in Kabul, travels to Herat, and offers insights from one of our writers’ three-month experience as a female photographer in Afghanistan.
The Valentine’s Week “Living room Fundraisers” were a big success thanks to our grassroots community across the globe. Small and large gatherings were held and stories from our writers were shared. You can read more and see pictures on our Facebook page, including a comment from Anna Porubcansky in Scotland who kindly sent us pictures of her gathering, plus this comment:
“To be able to sit around the table with friends – some old, some new – and talk about the world, how we can help, how to make a difference, and also to know that we were connected to something larger than just our table; that there were and will be others sitting around tables around the world, with their hearts and minds reaching out to each other because of the words of these amazing, courageous women…I really just wanted to thank the entire team for providing the opportunity to do that.”
A big applause and thanks go out to Leanne and everyone involved in these fundraisers. Great work!
Our new global theatrical initiative, “AWWP Presents” will enable any interested group to help bring the voices of Afghan women, so long silenced, to a worldwide audience: silenced no more. And, our beautifully crafted media kit will soon to go into production.Thanks to Lynn, our Public Relations Co-coordinator, Stefan, our Webmaster, and Jeff and Stephanie, our Creative Outreach Representatives for all their work and creativity.
Workshop and Editing Coordinators Elisabeth and Susan continue to orient new mentors into our program. We also appreciate the time put in from all our mentors and volunteers in helping Afghan women raise their voices.
What’s your advice for Afghan Women, Mrs. Clinton? In early February, the UK Guardian published a letter written by one of our writers calling on the US government for help. This article received a lot of comments, stimulating interesting debates among readers. If you haven’t read this moving article yet, please take the time to visit the Guardian or our site and add your own comment.
And, in celebration of International Women’s Day, “The News Online” spoke with Masha Hamilton, Founder of AWWP. Read this great interview with Masha to find out the impetus behind the birth of our organization and our philosophy.
Please like us! We are heading towards 2000 supporters on Facebook but need your help. If you are a Facebook fan, please share our link with your friends so we can reach that vital number.
Please remember to encourage these brave writers with your comments. As always, we thank you for your support and shared commitment to bring forward the voices and stories of Afghan women.
I do not know what the magic is with this place, this holy Shrine of the Imam Reza in Mashhad. I know only that every time my heart feels heavy or I am disappointed, I want to come here. Maybe because here there is no one to nag, no one to shut me up when I speak, no one to blame me for who I am.
She was the senior person in our office and didn’t let anyone from other departments criticize our work. Instead she worked closely with us to improve our work and support her staff.
The new wife, Mariam, did not follow Afghan cultural customs of hospitality and greetings. Zohra always did what her in-laws told her to do, but Mariam never bothered. Zohra would welcome guests and be kind to them, while Mariam stayed in her room until the guests left. Zohra always behaved the way her in-laws and husband wanted her to behave. Mariam did what she wanted.
“… Currently we have about 130 female prisoners. They are sentenced from three months to 20 years for different types of crimes, like murder, escaping from the house, and other crimes…”
Will I forget the dead that I saw when I was six? Will I ever get rid of all the nightmares? Will I always be waiting for the bad news that someone in my family or one of my friends is dead?
There should be women who dare to take pictures and challenge Afghan male culture. I think everyone has a unique way of looking at things and we should not prevent women from exploring their visions. I do not think photography is a male job. I think art is without boundaries and gender should not limit it.
Laynie Browne is the author of eight collections of poetry. Currently she teaches at the University of Arizona and runs a writers-in-the-schools outreach program.
When I learned from a previous mentor about AWWP I immediately thought, well finally, here is something I can do beyond reading the news, donating funds and worrying. What AWWP has given to me is an opportunity to become engaged with the voices of women in the midst of great conflict and distress. What an honor it is to be entrusted with encouraging these strong, intelligent, courageous women whose writing rings in a determined battle to rebuild their country and re imagine what might be possible for women writers. We need to hear these voices. Their stories are immense learning opportunities and gifts to open our eyes.
Valerie Wallace is an award-winning poet who leads workshops in Chicago and online, and is an editor with RHINO Poetry. She is also an editor with AWWP and coordinates this newsletter and the AWWP Facebook page.
I loved opening my computer to find poems and essays all the way from Afghanistan, often with heartfelt notes of thanks from the writers to me, someone they only knew through AWWP. Connecting, even for a short time, with writers of a different culture than mine brought me a renewed appreciation for the craft itself, as a means of creativity and as an avenue toward self-empowerment. This was also an opportunity for me to enter into a style and culture that is both centuries-old, yet changing rapidly. However, it was the experience of reading their stories and poems which made me realize again how important it is that these women be able to write what is true and write from the heart.What they tell us is real, and that is a powerful gift.
Donations
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 they can 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, and please contact us with any questions.
The Afghan Women’s Writing Project has filed for non-profit with 501 (c) 3 status. Your donation is tax deductible.
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: Rachel de Baere, Program Director
Neha Bawa, Creative Outreach Coordinator Stefan Cooke, Webmaster and Website Designer
Darcy Courteau, Editor Cate Dowman, Assistant to the Director
Lynn Harris, Public Relations Coordinator
Elisabeth Lehr, Workshop Program Coordinator
Jeff Lyons, Creative Outreach Director
Leanne K. Moore, Special Events Coordinator Sharni Montgomery, Outreach Director Down Under
Susan Postlewaite, Coordinating Editor Tahmina Popal, Liaison in Afghanistan Kathleen Rafiq and HeidiLevine, Photography
Mary Reed, Editor Jordan Schneider, Special Projects Coordinator
Lauren Shapiro, Intern
Tina Singleton, Liaison in Afghanistan Stephanie Tait, Assistant Creative Outreach Director Valerie Wallace, Editor, Newsletter/Facebook Coordinator
Our inspiring friends are afghans for Afghans, Friends of Afghanistan, SOLA and the Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation; please visit their websites.
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