Our goal is that the 1100 women who participate in our project should be able to influence their own lives. A decent and reliable livelihood and the knowledge to orient them selves in society, offers opportunities, "says secretary general of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee, Liv Kjølseth.
In Afghanistan, poverty affects women to a greater extent than men. The group that is the worst hit is that of widows, and women who are alone and have to bear the responsibility of breadwinner for their families.
According to the UN, as many as one million women could be going through this ordeal. Some widows have lost their husbands in war and conflict, but in many cases the main reason is the large age difference between spouses. This is largely due to the fact that due to poverty bride price remains high for men to afford in order to get married (dowry man must pay to his prospective wife's family).
Men have to save long before they can marry. Young girls are attractive, and poor families find it difficult to say no to the income it provides to marry off a daughter. Old men suffer from ill health condition which limits their working capacity and die before their wives. This results in women becoming widows with the responsibility of feeding their family or children.
According to UNICEF, 57% of girls in Afghanistan get married below the legal marriage age of 16 years. Marriage at such a young age denies these girls the access to formal education and knowledge about health and nutrition. Unfortunately, in addition, a highly male-dominated Afghan society does not help the cause of women’s education either. This not only discriminates against the basic rights such as health and education, but according to Afghan women’s organisation as much as 87% of the Afghan women have been victims of physical or mental torture.
The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee has long been concerned with these disturbing facts and taking up measures to improve the living situation of poor widows and their families. We are pleased that international donors such as the German GTZ and the World Food Programme have taken cognisance of "foster mom” project. In the project women take part in useful work while their family gets monetary benefits as well as useful knowledge. Our experience shows that women avail this opportunity and they are better equipped when the project period is over.
