Afghanistan: Women lay the groundwork for future generations
by Aria Abawi
"I went through a great amount of adversity to achieve the success that I have in life,” says Shazia,* an agriculturalist and a community mobilizer for an international non-governmental organization (INGO).
Shazia began her career as an agricultural trainer just five years ago. Since then, she swiftly progressed to her current role, where she trains women in poultry farming, including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. She also has expertise in land preparation, sowing, fertilizer application and irrigation.
Shazia’s father was an agriculturalist and an inspiration to her; she now aims to be a trailblazer for other women in her field. With unwavering determination, even during the height of the pandemic, Shazia travelled across various districts in Afghanistan’s Jawzjan Province from 2020 to 2023, providing essential support and training in skills such as farming, cultivation and sowing to more than 3,000 women. She navigated COVID-related challenges by adapting the training sessions to comply with safety protocols, such as social distancing, wearing masks and providing hygiene equipment and facilities to the women. She also conducted virtual training sessions when in-person gatherings were not feasible.
Shazia has raised awareness among women but also achieved notable success in persuading local authorities to allow women to receive training in poultry farming. She firmly believes that the key to overcoming these obstacles is resilience and persistence, essentially not giving up.
Shazia takes pride in the progress of women, particularly widows, who have embarked on small business ventures with her organization’s support.
She explains: “Believe in yourselves, and while you are at home endeavour to learn additional skills. These skills can not only provide support for your family but also serve as a stepping stone towards achieving other goals, while also improving your mental health."
Shazia adds that by receiving poultry farming training, women in the communities where her organization operates have improved their productivity and reduced losses. This ensures high-quality poultry production, but it also allows these women to sell their products in local marketplaces, earn money and improve their livelihoods.
Shazia believes that women have infinite potential – they simply need to believe it.
"Previously, women in their communities were not considered breadwinners; instead, they were expected to take care of their families, prepare meals and tend to their livestock. These were considered their key responsibilities," she continues. "However, they now take pride and pleasure in their homestead's success in aquacultural and vegetable production."
Shazia calls upon the international community to demonstrate continued solidarity with Afghan women. From her perspective, this is not just a plea but a call to action.
“It is critically important for donors to sustain resources for women-centred programmes in Afghanistan, especially those led by NGOs,” she says. “Without this, it will not be possible to address the unique challenges faced by Afghan women. They cannot do it alone; it requires the collective investment of communities both inside and outside Afghanistan."
*Name has been changed.