Literacy classes and poultry farming in the Panjshir Valley

The Project

A new project supported by UNIFEM is providing classes in literacy and poultry farming to women in a rural village in the Panjshir Valley.

In September 2007, through a project of (NGO NAME), approximately 40 women began meeting every morning for a one-hour literacy and basic math class, followed by training in successful poultry farming.

It is the hope of (NGO NAME) and UNIFEM that these women will be better able to make informed decisions for themselves and their families by learning reading, writing, and basic math skills, and to simultaneously improve their livelihoods by employing better agricultural practices.

Impact

When asked about the impact of the literacy classes on their lives, the women explain that being able to read their own language is like a bright light bulb turned onto their lives. Journeys to the capital, Kabul, are much more practical, as the women are able to read signs and find their way without having to rely on others for help. They are also able to use mobile phones more efficiently due to their literacy learning.

The poultry farming classes are also helping the women to contribute to their family's income by increasing the number of eggs produced by their chickens.

One young woman explains:

Before, we just let our chickens run, but now, because of the classes, we know how to keep them, how to prepare the coops,
and it's much better

Yet life for the women remains difficult. Classes are attended along with their daily chores, which include cleaning, preparing meals, sending younger children off to school, and working their land to provide food for the family. Reading and writing homework is typically done by candlelight at the very end of the day.

Obstacles

While there is a newly trained female health educator in the village, there are no clinical supplies, so very little can be done to treat those who fall ill. addition, many households have lost loved ones to Afghanistan's decades of war, and this has had an effect on the productivity and emotional stability within families.

There is also little to no electricity available to the area, and only a small number of homes have access to a genderator.

Agricultural products such as wheat and maize are grown for village consumption, and the lack of effective machinery and labour make it impossible to grow for export.

Perseverance

But despite their hardships, the women involved in the project are eager to continue their learning, and enjoy the opportunity to come together and further their skills. Through literacy and the road to increased self-sustainability, new light is being shed onto their lives as active citizens of Afghanistan.

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