AWC celebrated 6terms of basic education and awareness programs with a graduation ceremony in Kabul Shahan Hotel, Kabul. It was sponsered by Etisalat, a telececommunications company in Afghanistan. 500 people from government, NGOs, INGOs, embassies and the media participated in the ceremony. AWC granted certificates to the women who completed one year of basic education and awareness courses. These women received promises of continuing assistance from Afghanistan Women Council.
The ceremony began with a recitation of holy verses from the Quran. Afterward, Ms. Fatana Ishaq Gailani, the founder and chairwoman of Afghanistan Women Council addressed the women graduates.
“Afghan women should know that their existence in society is worthy of full benefits and rights as valued members of the community“, Fatana Gailani stated, “and that the women graduates should not be without hopes and dreams anymore. They have to promote the skills which they have learned in the Afghanistan Women Council Vocational Training Center. They should work really hard to be able to support themselves and their children well”.
The honorable people who gave speeches at the ceremony are as follows:
1- Ms. Fatana Ishaq Gailani, AWC Founder and chairwoman
2- Mr. Abdulhadi Arghandiwal, Minister of Economy
3- Ms.Amena Afzali, Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, martyrs and disabled
4- Mr.Said Makhdom Rahin, Minster of Information and Culture
5- Ms. Seema Samar, Chairperson of Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
6- Ms. Saida Mujhgan Mustafawi, Technical Deputy of Ministry of Women Affairs
7- Mr. Moh. Sarwar Hussaini, Basic Education Deputy Ministry of Education
8- Ms. Bahana Omer Zaman, Human Resource Manager, Etisalat, Afghanistan
All of the speeches focused on self empowerment, basic education, current economics and the educational situation of Afghan Women. At the end of the ceremony Madam Gailani invited the guests to attend the exhibition of handicrafts which was produced, organized and managed by graduate trainees. Meanwhile Madam Gailani received the honoree award from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs of Afghanistan, entitled “Warrior Women”. Fatana Ishaq Gailani also presented an appreciation award to Ms. Seema Samar, the head of the Human Rights Commission, for her dedicated work to promote human rights.
