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Suzanne Rogge, TIE's sponsorship program director, sent Basir and Qudsia, our Afghan
program directors in Kabul, a link to an article titled "It is time: Afghanistan's Female Candidates Promise Change"
.click here to read
417 Afghan women are campaigning for a seat in the 250 member parliament. Women are, by the Afghan constitution, entitled to 27% of the seats. I think they have more women in congress than we have in ours.
A few years ago it was reported that there was an effort underway to amend the constitution to provide that no more than 27% of the seats be held by women. I think that failed and may not have come to a vote. It is a reflection, however, of how some Afghan men feared how influential and powerful Afghan women might become. Gender equality in Afghanistan is probably a generation or two away, perhaps more. It took 70 years for women in the United States to be able to vote and gender equality has yet to be achieved.
Afghan men and women risked their lives to become a member of parliament. Within the past two months, ten candidates have been killed, two were abducted and four others were wounded. click to read article
The Taliban warned people to not vote. Millions voted, many waiting in line for hours, knowing that it could cost them their lives.
Freedom isn't free. Nor is democracy.
I wrote Qudsia letting her know how remarkable those who voted are.
Qudsia responded:
Dear Mr . Budd ,
You are absolutely right giving vote was very risky for each afghan ,but still our brave women went for voting .I think it is a great Change for Afganistan .
When Basir and I wanted to go for voting my eldest daughter cried and said please don't go if some things happen like bomb blast I cannot take care of my young sisters, but we promised her that God is great he will take care of us .
Living in Afganistan is very risky and it is a great challenge, but still Afgan people never give up thier hopes .
Best Regards
Qudsia
Make my day photos!
Saturday, Basir sent me the photos posted below. Last month we purchased 590 books and shelving for three libraries. All libraries now have computers with educational videos and books that can be checked out and taken home. An average of 700 children are using our computer libraries every day, six days a week. Books bring education into their homes. As you are well aware. The more educated they are, the more choices they will have in life.
All things considered it's a good day, even though we can't escape troubling news, from there and here.
Budd
