Women from 22 of the 52 districts within Surkh Rod, just west of Jalalabad, met for an all-female shura Sept. 19. Joining the village representatives was also the assistant director of the DOWA, assistant director of female youth and the social worker for the director of youth.
related,” said Sgt. Kristin Goehler, Nangarhar PRT female engagement team member. “The DOWA was able to immediately identify education concerns. Having the DOWA there to have a dialogue with was huge. The DOWA made a commitment to the people.” The women desire education, added Goehler, a Milwaukee, Wis., native. One of the long-term goals of the DOWA, which is shared by members of the shura, is to educate and train women so they can potentially learn a trade, earn a living and contribute to their households. Members of the shura explained that they are making efforts to improve education. In many of the outlying areas, girls are unable to attend school for a variety of reasons. Many of the girls are unable to travel to the nearest schools, many of which are nearly 31 miles away. “The assistant director for the DOWA recommended setting up temporary girls’ schools using tents, shade or anything else,” said Poindexter, who is an elementary teacher in addition to serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. “That is exactly what needs to be done.”
Risking Personal Safety Additionally, shura members spoke about how security concerns impact education. Throughout Afghanistan many girls are targeted for trying to advance themselves, said Poindexter. Under the Taliban, women were not allowed to get an education. Although the regime has been largely ousted, some of the ideology remains.
Lastly, the women spoke of the lack of female secondary teachers. As recently as May, a male head teacher in Logar Province, just outside Kabul, was killed by Taliban insurgents after he ignored numerous threats urging him to stop teaching girls. However, terrorists continue to target women. “There were several younger girls at the shura,” said Goehler. “When asked why they were there, they said that the older women were too fearful of traveling.” Despite the risk, the women donned their chadri, a garment that covers them entirely, and came to the shura, said Poindexter. Once inside in the company of just women, they exposed their faces. However, upon leaving, the women disappeared anonymously under the veils of their chadri. “It requires great courage for these women to come to events like this shura,” said Poindexter. “They risk being targeted with harassment and threats. Yet, this was the largest female shura that we have attended, which just shows how important these events are.”
Members of the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team and Task Force Black Scarves female engagement teams met with the head of education and assistant director for the Nangarhar Department of Women’s Affairs during a female shura in Surkh Rod, Sept 19. The official assembly enabled female representatives to bring their concerns to the provincial line directors who can elevate them in order to find the best solution. WARRIOR–CITIZEN
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