ChildFund International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children living in poverty around the world, has made great strides in improving the lives of women and youth in Afghanistan. Since the end of civil and international wars, Afghanistan has struggled to rebuild, and gender inequalities persist. In addition, the lack of reliable roads and communication makes access to basic social services extremely difficult for individuals in rural areas, especially women and children.
To promote the welfare of children throughout the country, ChildFund has established Child Wellbeing Committees, which provide local communities with best practices for healing after conflict and for protecting youth in the process. These committees work closely with parents, as well as local government officials and other community members. ChildFund also offers training for legal and social work professionals on issues such as children’s rights and the reintegration of children who have been affected by conflict and abuse.
To protect women and girls, ChildFund offers legal support and a variety of other services, such as mediation and violence prevention training. Women in Afghanistan continue to experience high rates of sexual, physical, and emotional violence, as well as forced marriage and human trafficking. They may also struggle to receive education and health care. While the government has attempted to address these issues, ChildFund continues to provide assistance to women and girls.
ChildFund has also done great work in the area of public health. The organization has rehabilitated dozens of community health facilities and has trained more than 60 community volunteers to provide basic services. Families can turn to the organization for education about proper hygiene and sanitation, and expecting mothers can receive information about prenatal care as well. In addition, these initiatives have promoted immunizations and encouraged parents to consult with health care professionals when their children get sick.
ChildFund’s RESTART project, based in Nangarhar Province, offers parents education on basic parenting skills and child development. The organization also supports community-based literacy classes for women and girls, and has established more than 70 community libraries. In addition, five early childhood development centers in the province provide preschool education for children of refugee families.