An education project was launched in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghor province, to raise awareness of Afghan women of finance management principles. The project was put forward by a local NGO working with Afghan women affairs. The project received funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), civilian element of the Lithuanian-led PRT and PRT's CIMIC division assisted in its development and coordination.
On December 14 the first phase of the project, instructor training, began. Ten women were trained for eight days to become finance management instructors in amassing and retaining savings, managing loans and credits. When the instructors finish the eight-day training they will convey the knowledge to other participants of the project. It is expected that the project will induce women to undertake their own business and earn money independently.
„Education opens the gates or the better tomorrow. Projects of the kind help women feel themselves more influential and aware ", said director of the NGO Susan Yazdani.
On December 22 instructor certificates and remembrance gifts were presented to graduates of the course in a ceremony. Representatives of Ghor administration attended the ceremony.
300 thousand women make up nearly half of population in the province. Women and children are the most vulnerable social group in Afghanistan. Religious beliefs, traditions and tribal conflicts put restrictions on women's opportunities to receive education and develop independent activities. Women especially lack information, not only do they have less opportunities to attend schools and universities like men do but also to receive legal securities. However, women increasingly obtain secondary education and graduate from a variety of professional training courses.
Several non-governmental organisations in Ghor specialise in women's education with USAID as major actor in expansion of women rights. Lithuania also provided financing from the development cooperation projects budget for constructions of Ghor girls' school this year.
The Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of NATO's ISAF, that was launched in Ghor in summer of 2005. The main task of the mission is to help Government of Afghanistan to extend authority in the province, ensure security and create environment for provincial reconstruction. Prerequisites for the allied forces deployed in Afghanistan to finish the mission will be provided as soon as the country's National Security Forces are able to ensure security of the country and its people independently. In the present period major attention is paid to the projects of training and preparation of Afghan National Security Forces.
At the moment the 11th rotation of the Lithuanian-led PRT serve in Afghanistan, the shift is based on the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion.
Representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland and Ukraine serve together with Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in Ghor PRT camp in Chaghcharan
PRT-12 CIMIC specialist Cpl Giedrė Sabaliauskienė and PIO for PRT-12 Capt Ainaras Jonaitis. Pictures by: Cap Giedrė Sabaliauskienė and Juana Rodriguez. In the pictures: training at the Chaghcharan Professional Training Centre.
