A practical way to forge a better future for Afghan women is through economic empowerment. Consequently, many organizations have undertaken projects to help women achieve greater financial independence. One of these organizations is Women for Women International, which, since 2002, has worked with more than 45,000 Afghan women through a yearlong program that emphasizes self-empowerment and teaches financial literacy.
Upon completion of this program, women experience four areas of change. First, they are more likely to earn and save money. Women were earning significantly more daily on average within two years of graduation from the program. Second, women had a greater sense of control over their bodies and their health. Many of the women began practicing family planning following the program. Third, women were more aware of their rights and more prone to organize within their communities. Participants not only had a greater understanding of their rights, but also a drive to share that understanding. Finally, women become more involved with managing household finances and making decisions that affect the entire community.
In addition to the 45,000 women who have participated in the training program, Women for Women has offered microcredit loans to more than 67,000 Afghan women to help them jumpstart their businesses. These businesses could prove a crucial part of the larger economic development of the country. As more women launch businesses and generate larger incomes, they can invest in other new businesses, thereby generating a ripple effect of successful entrepreneurship.
Understanding that true social empowerment involves the entirety of society, Women for Women also seeks to engage Afghan men and shift traditional attitudes regarding women. These programs teach men important facts about women’s health and explore how various social and economic issues affect men and women differently. Ultimately, the programs give men the tools they need to become real allies of Afghan women. Thus far, the organization has educated more than 700 male leaders on the benefits of female empowerment.