Tuesday, July 28th
Kabul, Afghanistan
... In life there is male and female. You need both to make a balanced world. If the right hand is man and the left hand is women - then Afghanistan has had it's left hand tied behind it's back. The right hand can't do everything. It thinks it can - but it can't. It can't even wash itself. In fact without allowing the left and right hands to swing freely the whole body is off balance. So the left hand needs to come out and be whole and free - to let the broken right hand repair itself ...
My young colleague Khan Mohammed Poya approached me the other day with an idea for forming a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and promoting respect toward women. He feels as an Afghan man, that unless young men are taught to respect women - that all the 'gender' projects in the world will be meaningless. He wants to have a camp where boys between the age of 8-14 (an impressionable age in any culture) will come together to learn about tolerance, respect and leadership. He loves the "SEEDS OF PEACE" program and wants to so something like to promote respect towards girls and women. So he asked for my help.
I drafted a Delphic outline for what a not-for-profit organization might do ... with a mission statement. But then I asked my sister to think of a good name. She and Poya have been communicating on-line for the last three days. The finally agreed on the name KIND HANDS - STRONG VILLAGE.
Poya and his friend Omer are thrilled about this. They went out today and registered the company as an NGO and have created a board of directors and are organizing meetings with medical doctors, teachers and other stakeholders. I am so impressed with them. Thank you Poya ... for getting your idea out!
Let's make this happen!
Wow! Grassroots at its best. Surely there is funding available for this.
ReplyDeleteJudie
Rather than wait for funding from one organization, we're thinking of raising money from individuals ... so that the entire experience is a bit more personal. Poya wants to keep this really small for now ... just to do a pilot project.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good idea to start with a small group of boys and test out a curriculum or activities and grow from there. Great idea! -Amanda O'Neil
ReplyDeleteSue - I am so pleased that my small contribution was well received. I do my best thinking in the kitchen. That's where the "kind hands" came to me. ....over the sink, up to wrists in soapy water, looking out the window at my husband toiling in the yard. Poya's mission statement was so clearly written I could envision all women with their hands in their sinks, looking out over their men and sons, knowing that respect and kindess within that home are fundamental elements needed to keeping their village spiritually strong. ~Diane
ReplyDeleteDee Dee - Your contribution was not small. Sometimes we think we are doing nothing. But the fact that a nice person from California stepped forward to help ... with absolutely nothing to gain from it has touched the hearts of Poya and Omar. They are so motivated now. Like Amanda suggests, we are starting with a small, pilot project first.
ReplyDelete