Christian Aid (CAID) has worked in Afghanistan for more than three decades under four different regimes – from the Soviet occupation to the current government that was voted in after the US-led invasion of 2001. With a focus on community development, livelihood creation, gender equality and emergency response Christian Aid has both experience and expertise in running projects in this highly fragile environment, a deeply divided society ravaged by insecurity, violence and war.
One recent project saw Christian Aid partner with Skills Training and Rehabilitation Society, often referred to as (STARS) to improve women’s knowledge about personal hygiene in Cheghcheran City, Ghor Province, Afghanistan.
While Sanitary napkins are a universally essential product much of the population in rural Afghanistan are unaware of their existence, those that are familiar with the sanitary napkins often cannot afford them. The lack of access to sanitary products results in poor personal hygiene and an increase in infection and ill-health.
Faced with these facts the project set out to educate women on personal hygiene and to provide training in the production of sanitary napkins. With the creation of a local co-op, the production and sale of napkins has gone on to provide a sustainable income in a society where women are still affected by inequality.
With support from Electric Aid the project has achieved the following:
- Increased hygiene awareness through REFLECT, a method which combines raising awareness with training on skills such as literacy.
- New opportunities for women to improve their livelihoods through a sustainable income-generating activity.
- Involved government authorities, religious leaders, village elders and Shura members in the project.
- Community leaders have been trained by local Mullahs to explain and promote the rights of women.
While it is known that sanitation and personal hygiene is extremely important it was often a conversation brushed under the carpet by many women. Women often felt ashamed to openly talk about their own hygiene as it was considered a sensitive issue and social taboo in Afghanistan. It was not until the project progressed that women began to openly talk about their own experiences and the ill-health they suffered due to a lack of personal hygiene awareness.
A local mother of 9, Gul Hawas, spoke positively on her time spent participating in the personal hygiene classes and mentioned how she was always unable to help her daughters during their periods as she was unaware of the reasons for their pain.
Hawas stated that now “having received the support from STARS, I know how to make sanitary pads for a fair price, and how to support myself and my daughters in taking care of our personal hygiene.”
Hawas is just one of the many women who have benefitted greatly due to the work of Christian Aid Ireland. Work that would not be possible without the generous and kind donations made by all to Electric Aid. Community based schemes like these are the backbone of ElectricAid projects which make a real and tangible difference to the livelihoods of people around the world. This project directly addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals #3 Good Health and Wellbeing and # 6, Clean Water and Sanitation. Click here if you would like to read more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the projects bringing the Goals to life worldwide.
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