GiveBIG 2019 is May 8th– and Sahar needs YOUR help!

GiveBIG is a one-day online giving event to raise funds for nonprofit organizations in Greater Seattle. It’s the opportunity for us all to come together and make the world a better place.

This year, we’ve set our goal to fundraise $3,500 to support education for girls in Afghanistan. Please help us reach our goal by donating $50.00 or more on our GiveBIG page, and by asking your family and friends to donate too!

Worried you may forget? Schedule your donation to secure your support!

Hear from Fresta, one of the instructors of our successful Early Marriage Prevention Program on the importance of empowering girls in Afghanistan through education:
“I am faced with powerful and brilliant girls who have big ambitions. However, they do not know how to problem-solve the issues they confront. Now they are learning to meet the challenges in their life– they keep defending their rights and fighting for gender equality. Working with EMPP girls makes me feel great.” 

Sahar is seeking new Board Members!

Is it you? Sahar Board Members will have the privilege of working collaboratively with our US and Afghan team, creating programs and building schools that truly change lives. The board provides strategic direction and oversight to our well-established non-profit, ensuring we are the best stewards possible for our supporters and the people of Afghanistan.

If you or someone you know:

• Is passionate about access to education and is excited about creating opportunities for girls, women, and families in Afghanistan.
• Communicates well and are able to build awareness of Sahar
• Wants to be a part of a dynamic board and have the time and energy to spend 5-8 hours a month doing board work
• Is interested in building partnerships for Sahar to expand its local and global network.

Check out our Sahar Board Opportunity Announcement for more information.

Interested in joining us? Sahar is seeking to bring on new board members to serve three-year terms beginning September 2019. Please email [email protected] with any questions and to receive the short online application. Interested candidates must complete an application by June 10, 2019, and will be interviewed by our recruiting team.

The Asia Foundation’s Afghanistan in 2018: A Survey of the Afghan People is out! With the largest sampling of the Afghan population to date, this survey helps recenter and understand what is most important to Afghan citizens in their everyday lives.

Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghanistan has made significant progress in women’s rights and education. The findings of The Survey reflect that progress in the opinions of Afghan citizens. However, The Survey also speaks to how far the country has to go to ensure women’s equality and access to education: most people surveyed do not support women working outside of the home, equal opportunity for girls and women in education, or the right for a women to decide who to vote for for herself.

And yet, according to this survey, people’s opinions are changing. Baad and badaal practices (traditional practices connected to forced and early marriage) are at their lowest approval rating ever. More women report contributing to their household income than in previous years. And despite serious threats of violence, 38% of females voted in the most recent presidential election.

Afghanistan may have a long way to go to achieve gender equality generally and in education, but progress has been made and progress will continue. Sahar’s programs, such as Early Marriage Prevention, digital literacy, and female teacher training, are perfect examples of this progress. The girls we serve crave these programs and as we grow in response, the community’s acceptance of our programs and girls’ empowerment grows as well.

We are proud to do this work. Thank you for your support in educating the future women of Afghanistan!

Shout out to the first female Afghan orchestra currently touring Europe! The Zohra orchestra, comprised of young women aged 12-22 from the Afghan National Institute of Music (ANIM), performed at the British Museum on Friday, March 15.

This inspirational group of young women is a clear example of the power that music and education has in transforming and empowering the lives of girls. ANIM is an institute that primarily works with underserved youth; 70% of the students come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Empowering youth through music, especially in Afghanistan, where during the Taliban rule education for girls was strictly and violently prohibited, is a courageous and inspiring avenue for social change. We congratulate these girls for their success and for showing the world the potential and power of Afghan girls!

As the director of Zohra, Dr Ahmad Sarmast, states, “Zohra creates a lovely sound but also it’s a symbol of the freedom of Afghan women. This is the message we take around the world.” We at Sahar acknowledge and support the amazing impact that ANIM makes for girls.

Check out Sahar’s mention in Global Washington’s March Newsletter! In honor of International Women’s Day, Global Washington’s March issue brief features the current state of early marriage throughout the world and the negative outcomes– especially on the child brides– of the practice. The brief states:

“Child marriage is a violation of international human rights law. Yet around the world, about 650 million of the women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). By 2030, it’s estimated that more than 150 million girls will become child brides.”

In Afghanistan, 57% of girls are married before the legal age of 16. Our Early Marriage Prevention Program inspires girls to continue their education and empowers them to become leaders in their community. It also equips them to advocate for themselves by increasing their knowledge of potential educational opportunities and an understanding of their legal rights. Each year, Sahar reaches 500 girls directly, and more than 2,000 community members. Click here for more information on our program!

We are honored to be featured for our work in our Early Marriage Prevention Program and appreciate Global Washington for highlighting this important worldwide issue!