Courtesy Photo | U.S. Senior Civilian Representative Ambassador Jonathan Addelton, center, speaks at a...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan – U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. Department of the State representatives, the Provincial Director of Women’s Affairs and local Spin Boldak women gathered to discuss the overall well being of women in the district at a breaking of fast dinner during Ramadan, July 29, 2013, at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims spend the day fasting and meditating to strengthen their spiritual life. The day turns from fasting to feasting after the sun sets. Known as an Iftar, the breaking of the fast is a time for Muslims to gather together in friendship after nightfall during Ramadan.
The Iftar was hosted for the local women and the Kandahar Department of Women’s Affairs to share their success, challenges, and current work within the community with the U.S. Military and U.S. Embassy staff.
“Women are half of the society here, they often don’t get as much attention as they should,” said U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan Jonathan Addelton. “Provincial Director of Women’s Affairs Roqia Achekzai was willing to come to the meeting and bring us together with a couple of women’s non-government organizations that are out of Spin Boldak.”
The U.S. Agency for International Development was a contributor in this meeting. The iftar was a unique opportunity to connect with Afghans on a more personal level.
The USAID gender officer, in coordination with the military, was able to bring Afghans and high-level officials to connect on a more personal level. The 4th Infantry Division also passed along the clothing donations made by the South East Rotary Club in Denver, Colo.
The donations were made by Afghan and Muslim Americans to give to residents during the month of Ramadan. Both NGOs and the DoWA were given items to distribute to some of their beneficiaries with the hope that they continue to cultivate dialogue with private donors in the U.S.
“(The Iftar) is a great way to highlight both our commitment to ensuring that women have a broader voice and a bigger voice in Afghan society, and supporting those women who have stepped forward,” said Stephenie Foster, a women and civil society advisor from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. “Also being respectful of their traditions here and being able to be part of this tradition by hosting an Iftar makes us able to (connect) to people on a very individual, personal level.”
With Afghans taking the lead in government programs, Spin Boldak has continued to be successful in keeping women’s affairs connected with local and provincial government.
“I think Spin Boldak is a perfect example of success. It started with some women just getting together and ISAF really played a huge part in their engagements,” said Nicole Malick, gender officer for USAID. “As we approach ISAF transition, these women have had to come up with creative ways to keep their networks sustainable. One of the things they were able to do is register two different NGOs that represented two different tribal factions and continue to have a voice both with the district governor and the DoWA.”
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2013 07:48 |
| Story ID: | 111298 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 678 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Women’s iftar held at FOB Spin Boldak, by Jovi Prevot, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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