March 15th, 2009
Advocate For Afghan Women To Speak In York

Daily Record/Sunday News

A humanitarian who has been working for women's rights in Afghanistan will visit York and speak 7 p.m. Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York.

In Kabul, Fahima Vorgetts served as director of a women's literacy program and studied chemistry in graduate school.

Vorgetts, now a U.S. citizen, has testified about Taliban abuses before the United Nations and other organizations and regularly visits Afghani villages to support the building of wells, health care centers and schools.

She is on the board of Women for Afghan Women, whose Web site says she now runs an import business and owns a cafe on the West Coast. A portion of her profits benefit the women of Afghanistan.

Vorgetts' talk in York is sponsored by the UUCY Social Justice Committee, the York Friends (Quaker) Meeting, the York Chapter of Amnesty International and People for Peace and Justice in York.

Donations to the Afghan Women's Fund will be accepted. Vorgetts will also be selling handiwork by Afghanis.