“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world” Malala Yousafzai
Malala made headlines as a teenager for speaking about life under the Taliban and advocating for the education of girls in her hometown of Swat Valley in Pakistan. After she was shot in the head on her way to school by the Taliban, Malala continued to speak out for the rights of girls accessing education and became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17.
Like Malala, the Afghan women we see through the ARAP Project have shown a fantastic commitment to learning. We have been running a weekly course called Introduction to Life Skills and Employability which covers such topics as:-
- Setting personal goals
- British values and the Equality Act – your rights and responsibilities
- Physical and mental health and wellbeing – accessing healthcare
- Recognising hate crime and how to report it
- Career planning – what careers exist in the UK how to choose your career
- Education – British qualifications further study and training
- How to get a job – CV writing, applications and interview skills
For some of the women this is their first time in a classroom. They were told it is illegal to learn, your place is in the home, do not leave your house, let alone develop your skills and talents.
Now the women are learning about future possibilities and how they can play a part in improving their own lives as well as the lives of their children and the local community.
“We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” Malala
Last Wednesday we took the opportunity to celebrate the amazing achievements of the Afghan and Iranian women before the month of Ramadan started. These are some of the dishes cooked at home and brought along by the women.