RAWA established literacy courses for women in eastern Afghanistan. More than eighty women attended the inauguration. (Photos: RAWA.org)
A literacy course for women was inaugurated in one of the poorest rural areas of eastern Afghanistan. RAWA members traveled to the village on April 6th, and held a small inauguration ceremony which was attended by more than eighty women.
The women of the area welcomed the establishment of the course. Gul Meena, one of the students said, “There is no school in this entire area. The schools are far away and we cannot afford to travel there for schools. We are in dire need of such courses so we can learn to read and write.”
Soma, another student, came with three of her children. She stated, “We have been deprived of literacy our entire life. This is the best opportunity for us. We will bear no costs and can even mould the timings of the course to fit with our daily chores.”
Hamasa, RAWA’s representative in eastern Afghanistan, stated the importance of such courses for women in these words, “Many women here cannot attend school. This does not mean that you cannot learn to read and write. You can learn here, and can defend your rights. You can gain awareness here so you can understand the situation of your country and everything that is happening around you. This is the main aim of our course… What is also important is that you can help your children. At least you can help them in their studies and can read what is written in their books.”
Stationary items were also distributed for the students. Each room of the course has space for 20 students. The course is expected to gather more students in the coming months.
Fundamentalist gangs have always been the sworn-enemies of the literacy and awakening of women, and fear the incredible power women will become by gaining consciousness. Raising awareness and consciousness of women has always been central to RAWA’s struggle in this situation. Hundreds of women in different provinces of Afghanistan have become literate through RAWA’s course and are the only teachers, nurses, and midwives in the most isolated provinces. We want Afghan women to gain awareness, organize and become a force against fundamentalist pigs, of the Jehadi, Taliban, and ISIS kind. These courses were established to achieve this goal.