Displaying Posts Tagged ‘afghan women’

An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.

Connie K. Duckworth / January 12th, 2011 / posted in afghan people, business social responsibility, economic sustainability, opportunity, social change, social investment / 1 comment

An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.

– Albert Einstein

Everyone I know personally or professionally shares a singular perspective—how glad we are to see 2010 in the rear view mirror. The past two years, in fact, have been exhausting on every front—economically, politically, globally—and our collective fatigue level is high. It’s hard to run life unceasingly at DEFCON 2. At the same time, there’s an innate optimism that comes with flipping to the blank slate of a new calendar year. It refreshes our spirits, revives our energy, stiffens our resolve and restores our hope for positive change.

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Women’s Rights and Talib, The Night Visitor

Connie K. Duckworth / October 19th, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, events, social change, social responsibility / no comments

The reconciliation process with the Taliban got underway in earnest last week when senior Taliban leaders were secretly allowed into Kabul to meet with President Karzai and his advisors. These are the kind of guys who, if not for the white flag extended to them, might otherwise have a drone on their tails.

There have been two immutable conditions for such talks: 1) agreement by the Taliban to recognize Afghanistan as a democracy, and 2) women’s rights. But this week, we’re starting to see language shift around the first point–that the Afghan Constitution, hammered out and proudly ratified by the Grand Loya Jirga in December of 2003, already has proper mechanisms in place to sufficiently ensure democratic principles. What is glaring is the silence on women’s rights.

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Empowering Women, Empowering Their Children

admin / October 7th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan families, economic sustainability, events, opportunity, social responsibility / no comments

With Child Health Day on Monday and U.S. National Children’s Day coming up this Sunday, October is a month dedicated to improving the lives of children in our global community.

At ARZU STUDIO HOPE, our mission is to empower women weavers in Afghanistan; and by doing so, we also strive to help their families. As the saying goes, “Educate a woman and you educate a family.” ARZU believes in this statement, with education being a main priority.

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“That which does not destroy, strengthens.”

Connie K. Duckworth / September 2nd, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan families, social programs, social responsibility / no comments

- Friedrich Nietzsche

What is amazing about Afghan women is that they are still standing after all they’ve seen and experienced. With a life expectancy of 44 years, life is short and harsh. Yet, despite the daily hardships of grinding poverty and insecurity, they have a resiliency of spirit that inspires me every day.

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From the Past to the Future: Equality for Women

admin / August 26th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, events, social responsibility / no comments

From the ARZU STUDIO HOPE staff…

Today is Women’s Equality Day – commemorating the passing of the 19th Amendment in the United States as well as the continued efforts to bring full equality for women worldwide.

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Would You Drink River Water?

Connie K. Duckworth / July 29th, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, sustainable community, sustainable economic development, sustainable environment / 1 comment

Given our national obsession with bottled water over tap, I somehow think that the answer for most of us would be a resounding “no.” But for billions of people, the question is not particularly relevant. They simply have no other alternatives and it makes them sick, literally.

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Afghan Women’s Rights Are Non-negotiable. Full Stop.

Connie K. Duckworth / July 15th, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan women, economic sustainability, opportunity / no comments

Washington’s trial balloon of “reintegrating” the Taliban raises red flags for those of us working to help Afghan women keep their seat at the table in the “new Afghanistan.” We’re worried that women will get traded away when the final deal gets cut, and we know this would be a disastrous mistake.

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Operation Magic Carpet Ride

Connie K. Duckworth / June 21st, 2010 / posted in afghan people, afghan women, economic sustainability, opportunity, social programs, sustainable economic development / 3 comments

If my blog has been conspicuous by its absence for the last ten days, at least I have a good excuse. I’ve been in Afghanistan – at Camp Leatherneck, Northern Helmand Province to be precise – at the invitation of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Needless to say, it’s been a once in a lifetime experience.

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Yes, Virginia. There Really Is Progress.

Connie K. Duckworth / June 3rd, 2010 / posted in afghan women, afghanistan families, social investment, social programs, sustainable community / 1 comment

Despite the all too many cases of subjugation and abuse, I believe in the possibility of change in the lives of women in Afghanistan. Although we may not “see it in The Sun,” it is exists – small signs of hope emerge every day. An illiterate woman learns to read; a child goes to school; a pregnant mother delivers a healthy baby; an unskilled man learns a trade. While, individually, none of these move mountains, taken together, they make a mountain. This week, opening day at the Laundromat was one of these small steps forward.

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Forced Marriage: A Crime Against Humanity

Connie K. Duckworth / June 1st, 2010 / posted in afghan women, opportunity, social change, social responsibility / no comments

Memorial Day’s New York Times article entitled “Afghan Child Brides Escape Marriage, but Not Lashes” is a graphic reminder of what’s at stake for girls and women in Afghanistan today. This is 2010 and the laws of civil society are supposed to now govern this country.

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