How do you put feminism into action at Womankind?
I am working for women’s empowerment and therefore contributing to develop strong and resilient relationships with leaders and core staff members of Womankind partners and other women’s rights organisations in Afghanistan in support of Womankind’s unique partnership model. I am leading the Afghanistan programme and partnerships strategy development along with design with partners and colleagues including scope for funding bids to co-create projects and initiatives. I am also involved in advocacy and policy influencing including UK Government and to closely liaise and coordinate with the Secretariat of Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) UK on matters related to Afghanistan.
Tell us about your feminist journey?
I have been a women’s rights educator, organizer, and advocate for more than a decade. I have worked as the Country Director for the Afghan Women’s Resource Center (AWRC) – a women-led non-government organization based in Afghanistan since 2009. In this position I direct the overall management of AWRC operations in Afghanistan. AWRC focuses on the empowerment of Afghan women, and actively serves Afghan women by providing them with a platform to network; share their problems, ideas, and thoughts; improve and/or gain literacy skills; obtain information on their health and rights; and acquire livelihood skills to earn a living in a dignified manner. Since leaving Afghanistan in late 2021 following the Taliban takeover, I continued to work remotely for AWRC.
A feminist hero of yours?
All the women in conflict zones who are raising their voices for their rights, though clearly realise the risk and related consequences.
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