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Afghan Women Entrepreneurs Battle to Retain Economic Freedom
The Afghan Adjustment Act
Congress will soon vote on the passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act. The majority of Afghans evacuated to the US following our military withdrawal have only been granted temporary protection via humanitarian parole, which is due to expire this summer or next. Though they have the legal right to temporarily live and work in the…
Read MoreAfghan Women and the Battle for Their Rights
Over the past two decades, Afghan women made significant progress in expanding their rights and gaining access to educational and economic opportunities in Afghanistan. In 2001, Afghanistan had an estimated 1 million students enrolled in school, most of whom were male. In 2020, less than 20 years later, there were more than 9.5 million Afghan…
Read MoreLeft Behind but Not Forgotten
Samman was one of two Afghan women who recently graduated from our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program in Rwanda, where she is now living as a refugee. We feel so honored that she was part of our class and invited her to share some thoughts on her experience. Hi everyone! I am Samman Akbarzada, an author from…
Read MoreA Message from Our Board Chair
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to Kigali, Rwanda to meet with PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® (PTB) graduates. I have been serving with the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) for the past three years, and this was my first time getting to see their work firsthand. While in Kigali, I visited…
Read MoreThe Urgency of Protecting Afghan Women Entrepreneurs’ Gains
The number of Afghan women who own and run businesses grew from zero in 2002 to around 57,000 in 2020, including both licensed and unlicensed businesses. This was remarkable progress in less than two decades. I witnessed firsthand the growth of women in business and know stories of thousands of women from Kabul and other…
Read More15th Anniversary Awards Presentation
On July 15, 2021, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women celebrated 15 years by recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution or impact. Honorees were recognized at an event hosted by HoganTaylor LLC Oklahoma City, with proceeds benefiting IEEW and its PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program.
Read MoreWhat One Afghan Family Can Accomplish Out of Love & Compassion
Wahab and Manizha married in 2011. Manizha says of Wahab, “he has been a great partner, very gender sensitive and very courageous to break gender stereotypes.” Showing his understanding of his bride-to-be, Wahab assured Manizha that he expected her to continue her professional work and reach for the goals she had set. He emphasized, “in 5 or 10 years from now, I don’t want you to look back and say, ‘oh, you couldn’t do this or achieve that, because you married me’.” Wahab has been Manizha’s rock, ensuring that their life together remains as he promised the day they married. He supports her everyday work and accomplishments, but moreover, he enjoys her drive, respects her independence, appreciates her competency and deep sense of responsibility for family, friends, and indeed, for the world at large.
Read MoreStories of Meticulous Balancing
“…Although at times the work takes her away from home, just like mine takes me away most of the time, we were blessed with autonomous children who have grown up into very reliable adults who look out for each other all the time. Mine has mostly been online parenting and sporadically physically present. Despite the enormous challenges that come with distance parenting, it doesn’t stop me from engaging them in discussions of values of hard work, discipline, respect for self and for others, especially our elders. Career and parenting requires very meticulous balancing.”
Read MoreMothers Dare to Dream
Mothers everywhere struggle with the age-old question regarding the balance of work and kids. More recently, mothers have been speaking truth to the theory of having it all. Women’s determination to be all and do all in the juggling act of balancing life often results in feeling inadequate. In reality, the trick is to live it…
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