Afghan Women Plan for Future

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Carolyn McIlvaine, Westfield, Mass., native and Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir medical team non-commissioned officer in charge, hands out book bags to girls in the village of Kohe-sur. PRT Panjshir met with the Paryan District Development Assembly for women's affairs to discuss various projects and make a humanitarian drop to a girls' school in the Paryan District. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Holly A. Hess, PRT Panjshir Public Affairs)

Afghan Women Plan for Future

U.S. Army Spc. Allison Cherkosly, Clifton Park, N.Y., native and Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir civil affairs member, assists Annisa Gul, District Development Assembly for women?s affairs in the Paryan District, by holding paperwork while Gul signs the document with her thumb print. PRT Panjshir met with Gul to discuss various women's affairs projects and to make a humanitarian drop to a girls' school in the Paryan District. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Holly A. Hess, PRT Panjshir Public Affairs)

Afghan Women Plan for Future

U.S. Army Spc. Allison Cherkosly, Clifton Park, N.Y., native and Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir civil affairs member, hands out book bags to girls in the village of Kohe-sur. PRT Panjshir met with the Paryan District Development Assembly for women's affairs to discuss various projects and make a humanitarian drop to a girls' school in the Paryan District. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Holly A. Hess, PRT Panjshir Public Affairs)

Afghan Women Plan for Future

Published Aug. 8, 2010
By By U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Holly Hess
Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Members of Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir met with Annisa Gul, District Development Assembly for women's affairs in the Paryan District, to discuss various projects and make a humanitarian assistance drop July 24.

The women's affairs representative from the DDA elevates women's affairs issues from their district area to the district governor and provincial development counsel in order to make improvements in their specific area.

"We are working on promoting women's education and getting supplies," said Gul, through an interpreter. "We are also working on getting electricy for the girl's school."

Gul said she has big plans for the future and has been working hard since being elected to the position six months ago. She works with a women's shura that helps her read, write and create project ideas.

"We are working on getting a sewing project and maybe a carpet loom for Paryan," she said. "If we get a loom we could sell to the shops in Paryan for profit."

Grants from the U.S. Embassy are available specifically for women's affairs projects said Spc. Allison Cherkosly, Clifton Park, N.Y., native and PRT Panjshir civil affairs member.

"They are underutilized because most people don't know about them," said Cherkosly. "That is where the PRT comes in. We will help her submit the projects."

After the discussions on future women's affairs projects, Gul accompanied the PRT to Kohe-sur Village to make a humanitarian assistance drop for a girls' school.

Members of PRT Panjshir CA team dropped off more than 200 book bags, school supplies and a tent.

In the village, school is conducted all year on a dirt mound with more than 200 students.

"We will use the tent to help protect the students from weather," said Hajj Shah Wali, National Solidarity Program member and schoolteacher in the village, through an interpreter.

These supplies encourage more girls to go to school and are important because the girls need things like pencils, to learn, said Wali.

Within the next several weeks, a permanent tent will be brought to the village by the PRT Panjshir CA team in addition to winter clothes for the upcoming cold-weather months.

"These people are really happy to receive help, said Haji Shahwali Community Development Counsel leader for the Kohe-sur Village, through an interpreter. "The PRT is the first to provide help for the village, and we are very thankful."