Training equips Afghan women to use poultry as income source

PARWAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

11.20.2010

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

Story by: U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan women received chickens and supplies after a graduation ceremony held at the Director of Women’s Affairs compound located near Charikar Nov. 20.

The graduation marked a successful completion of a course set up to teach women how to properly raise chickens as an additional source of income for their families.

Twenty-five women attended the five-day course coordinated by the DOWA, the Agency for Building a New Afghanistan and the Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team.

“These women are very poor and they came here for help,” said Saleha Zareen, the Parwan deputy director of women’s affairs.

Each woman graduating from the class received nine hens, a rooster, chicken wire, 80 kilograms of feed, a waterier and two vaccinations for each chicken. These supplies should provide the women with enough resources to grow their stock to produce eggs and eventually raise more chickens to sell.

“This is a big deal for the women and they are very appreciative of what they are doing,” said Zareen. “They come from their homes for the training. They are farmers and they are very happy and very excited. They have 10 birds now but I would like them all to have 100 birds.”

“This was a great event and we were very happy to be a part of it,” said U.S. Army Maj. Bobbie Mayes, women’s empowerment coordinator, Kentucky ADT, and a Lawrenceburg, Ky., resident. “These are truly amazing women and I know they will do a great job taking care of their chickens.”

The event was attended by people of the community, local media and Samya Azizi Sadat, a representative of parliament.

The Kentucky ADT and DOWA are planning similar training events in the future.

• Date Taken: 11.20.2010
• Date Posted: 11.24.2010 04:30
• Story ID: 60785
• Location: PARWAN PROVINCE, AF