Women empower women in Kabul and Scheberghan

After the Taliban came to power in 2021, Women's Hope had to discontinue the project to combat gender-based violence in two cities in Afghanistan. The local women, however, continued the activities at a low threshold and met weekly in self-help groups. Motivated by the courage of these women, Women's Hope and the partner organization WHSA decided to resume the project - adapted to the current circumstances.

Women's Hope International supports self-help groups in Afghanistan so that women can empower each other and initiate social change.

Generations of women in Afghanistan can lead self-determined and safe lives.

Afghanistan is experiencing one of the greatest humanitarian and political disasters in the country's recent history. Women and girls are particularly affected by the current situation. Since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, the rights of women and girls have been systematically restricted and civil society has been severely weakened.
Under the current government, women have virtually no opportunities for political participation, and they are also largely excluded from the labor market and education. 80 percent of Afghan girls and young women currently do not attend school. This equates to approximately 2.5 million girls.

The presence of the extremist Taliban also helps to entrench existing patriarchal structures within communities and families. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, up to 90 percent of Afghan women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. An overwhelming majority of the population and women themselves consider it the right of a husband to beat his wife.

Women's Hope International and Women's Hope Social Association (WHSA) managed a self-help project for women in Kabul and Scheberghan until the Taliban came to power. The women learned to support and empower each other in self-help groups. The goal of the project was to combat gender-based violence and child marriages. For security reasons, the two organizations stopped the project in 2021.

The resumption of the project from May 2023 is low-threshold and seeks to follow the original approach as much as the current situation allows. The safety of those involved and the strengthening of civil society are top priorities.

The current situation makes it difficult to pursue our original vision of social change. For this reason, the focus of the project is on supporting the self-help groups and strengthening civil society.

The project is implemented and co-designed by the affected communities. The groups have continued their activities without support and despite difficult circumstances, but have asked for guidance and financial resources from Women's Hope and WHSA on several occasions. Impressed by the courage of the women and communities involved, Women's Hope and WHSA are again supporting the initiatives. Continuation of the project after 2024 is possible if the security situation allows.

In a sewing course, women and girls learn news skills and support each other in the process.

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