The Hope for Afghan Women association was created in 2020 spearheaded by Rohina Samim. Having worked in the field from 2005 to 2019, she decided to set up her own project, based on her own personal experience and the local needs. In the country, countless women and girls are imprisoned on the basis of unproven facts. When released from prison they find themselves on the street, often with their children who were born in prison, and totally rejected by their families and society, who accuse them of “honour crimes”. The association’s project is for the creation of safe houses to complement the insufficient number of state-run security homes. Training and microcredits will be proposed, representing two pillars of the project that will serve to restore autonomy and dignity to these very vulnerable individuals. Rohina Samim, who has made her life a fight for the rights of women and children in Afghanistan, talks to us about her project.
21 September 2020 – 9:54 Vjosa Gervalla
1. You launched your association, where does this energy to create come from? What drives you in your association’s activities?
My energy comes from my passion to help the most underprivileged in Afghanistan, whose main victims are women and children. I managed to provide an opportunity to the children of a woman who had been executed by the Taliban. Her children were able to go to school and today can provide for their own needs, I realised that I could do a lot for my country despite all the obstacles. I stayed there for 14 years working to develop microfinance programmes, developing access to education, training, practical training, anti-corruption and schooling for children.
2. Where do you see yourself with your association and project in 3 years from now?
In 3 years’ time, I would like on the one hand to open up access to sheltered housing for these traumatised women and children. On the other hand, I am working so that they can have the possibility of following targeted training courses, which would facilitate professional openings. My ultimate goal is to empower women to become financially independent so that they can gain social status and respect in their communities. The children must learn to smile again, this is priority! And this requires schooling adapted to their needs.
3. What key learning has enabled you to make significant progress since the start of the Award?
My experience in social and humanitarian work and my passion to support the most vulnerable.
AWARD OVERVIEW
The objectives of the Diaspora & Development Award are to make known, recognise and promote the contribution of diasporas towards the enrichment of society in their host country and development of their country of origin; to strengthen their impact on development; and to facilitate a forum for the exchange of experiences and best practices on this topic.
Thanks to this award, which has taken place every two years since 2012, Fedevaco and its partners Albinfo and my-sbm promote the commitment of diasporas established in the canton of Vaud in favour of their countries of origin and strengthen their position as key players in development cooperation. In total, more than 70 organisations have received support to date.