Saturday, December 3, 2011

Change you can believe in


As I search for interesting, as well as important and meaningful topics to pursue both myself and for the benefit of my audience, I come across lawsuits, efforts for cheaper public education and health topics including birth control.  Women worldwide have freedoms and options that even their greatest enemies cannot take away.  And then there’s Afghanistan, the middle-eastern prison home to millions of bright and capable women who will never have the chance to live up to their potential.  No law can protect these individuals, because the government is instead in place to stifle any type of independence and personal growth.  What is even more difficult to fathom is the fact that these countries have so much wealth and first world resources yet continue to regard and treat women in the region as sub-human entities. 
            While many of these countries are attempting to form some semblance of a democracy, these discrepancies in gender equality become all the more blatant and out-of-place.  This July there was a march in Kabul to speak out against the sexual harassment and gender inequality rampant in the nation, organized by a young woman currently studying in Pennsylvania, and the co-founder of Young Women for Change.  Protests such as this are extremely rare, as women are not a priority in the culture and even made out to be the villains themselves and to blame for harassment instances.  Women of all ages, including the most conservative and old-fashioned, are frequently the target of men young and old when walking to work or to worship.  Even my mother, who is a 40-plus teacher always dressed in her school uniform, arrives home upset almost every day because of the disgusting comments she receives”.
            The group that led the march, Young Women for Change, had only held its first meeting two months prior to the march, and already had arranged a crowd of fifty supporters to march alongside.  With the aid of police, it seems that these marches will only grow in strength and influence, giving women the first palpable effort to believe in.  YWFC has been welcomed by many unexpected followers; from the first meeting, triple the expected number of people were in attendance—women of all ages, ethnicities, and even a group of Afghan-Americans via Skype. 
            Despite a surprisingly positive turnout, the founding members had to face such blatant discrimination as being turned away from meetings at Kabul-a public-University for no reason other than that they were all women.  The founders persevered however, and formed a campaign of sorts which incorporated posters, flyers, radio ads, various social media outlets, and TV interviews and debates—all culminating with the first-ever walk promoting street harassment awareness.  Founder Noorjahan Akbar, only 20 years old, was quoted in the New York Times discussing her newfound love of the country she has always called home.
“Thursday, July 14, 2011 was the first day I felt like I belonged to the city I have lived in for most of my life.  Despite Afghanistan’s history of war, and its news filled with suicide attacks, violence, Talibanism and corruption, I had found something to be proud of in my country.”
The organization now boasts a monthly lecture series, Afghan library building efforts, research grants and a male advocacy branch.  To say that this non-profit and young woman are inspirational is a understatement.  For the first time in history, the nations with the worst history of degrading and undermining half of their population may just have the chance to come to a democratic and peaceful state.  If it takes comities and police aid to allow women to safely walk the streets, then these small steps are much more than that.
           If you’d like to help in the effort, you can join the facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ywc.af.
Thanks as always for reading! 
 

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