Herat Self-Immolation Project

As a result of your generous donations on behalf of the Herat victims of self-immolation, WAW has formed  a partnership with a grassroots women's organization in Herat, Voice of Women Organization (VWO), to work on the legal, social, and economic empowerment of women in this extremely conservative region.

A portion of your donations was used to pay the salaries of nurses and other workers at the Herat Hospital. But because we had no way of overseeing how funds would be handled by the hospital, we decided to apply the rest of the money to projects that focus on the prevention of self-immolation.

We've started by funding the first stage of a program developed by VWO, the creation of Women's Shura's (councils) in rural villages. The women in these villages will formulate plans to improve their lives, plans that will center on literacy, vocational training, and legal assistance. The first village has been chosen and a building to house the Shura is being constructed.

We believe that participation in this program will establish women's authority in their villages and thus promote their empowerment. Once the pilot is underway and we can evaluate it, we will raise money to begin similar projects in other rural villages. Thus your contributions have initiated a long-term commitment from WAW on behalf of the women of Herat.

We will continue to update the website about our progress. Please continue your generous contributions to this fund to free the women of Herat from the tyranny of oppression.

Click here to see the September 9th, 2005 Women's eNews article featuring WAW's work in Herat.