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In 1997, Calgarians, Janice Eisenhauer and Carolyn Reicher met while completing a senior Development Studies course at the University of Calgary. Shocked by the human rights violations Afghan women were facing under the Taliban regime, they began to explore how they as Canadian women could help Afghan women in a tangible and effective way. From there unfolds many remarkable stories of how women from all across the country joined together in solidarity as members of this uniquely Canadian network: Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WAfghan). Today there are groups of volunteers working through chapters in Canada with hundreds of members and supporters, and an Afghan-run office in Kabul with staff and volunteers working together to advance human rights for Afghan women. In late February 1999, Victoria women including Helen Durie, Judy Lightwater were on a similar path to find ways to support Afghan women. Helen called Janice and Carolyn, introduced herself and immediately stated: "we want to start a chapter of CW4WAfghan in BC." Like all of our chapters in Canada, Victoria members host annual fundraising events, share information in their regions, give presentations at schools and community groups, and overall they strive to help keep Afghan women on the radar of the Canadian public. From these early beginnings CW4WAfghan members have remained focused on their goals of advancing rights and opportunities for Afghan women at a grassroots level, relying on a growing network of dedicated volunteers across Canada. Donations from individual Canadians are directed to programmes run by or for Afghan women. Hundreds of projects, representing millions of dollars raised mainly from individual donors, have been directed to women's programmes in Afghanistan in health care, education, skills training and human rights awareness. The shared efforts of our network produce tangible results because we connect with Canadians at the grassroots level. It was by asking “But What Can I Do?” and taking action those many years ago, by reaching out to Afghan women, listening to their stories, learning about their lives, their dreams and their fears, that many of us as Canadians realized our passions: to fight for the same basic human rights for Afghan women as we would expect for our own mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. Together we can ensure basic human rights are strengthened, accessible and more than words on a page, or covenants and resolutions…but rights enjoyed by all. This is our ultimate vision and one that we can all contribute toward in our own unique, diverse and passionate ways. It is a joy to be part of this energy, this movement of Canadians and Afghans as part of an active global civil society that binds us all…thinking not about charity, but to our actions in solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.
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