Women make up half the world’s population and provide an important perspective on social, economic and political matters. Yet, their voice is often missing in the political debate. With the goal of empowering young Afghan women with the requisite skills to be effective advocates, IFES launched the Future Leaders Club (FLC) in 2010. The program has rapidly expanded into a powerful network of women’s advocates thanks to the tenacity and passion of its members.
Designed as a pilot program to be implemented in Kabul in June 2010 and now operating throughout Afghanistan, the FLC is a six-month program for women 18-25 that provides lectures and trainings on democracy, elections, advocacy, and public speaking. The participants are also given the opportunity to apply their newly-acquired skills through practical exercises and exposure to socio-political bodies.
For example, as part of IFES’ Kabul pilot program in 2010, FLC members took a study tour to the Independent Election Commission (IEC) where they met with commissioners and participated in interactive exercises to learn about the Afghan electoral system and the then upcoming 2010 parliamentary elections. The FLC members also visited the British Broadcasting Company where they learned firsthand how a major international media outlet operates.
The FLC not only provides tools and techniques to be politically active, it allows the young women to become part of a network of Afghanistan’s future social and political leaders. Indeed, one FLC member, Ms. Rangina Kargar, was successfully elected into the Lower House of Parliament during Afghanistan’s recent elections in September 2010. She has continued to be thoroughly involved with the FLC.
Kargar, who is currently the youngest Member of Parliament, asserts that many of the skills she gained through the FLC helped her build social networks from which she gathered support, recruited volunteers, and communicated with the public—essential elements in an electoral campaign.
Kargar says: “My objective [in running for Parliament] was to serve the people of Afghanistan, but especially women because women face numerous socio-political challenges in my province [of Faryab].”
IFES trained 22 FLC members during the pilot program, which was so successful that it received funds to expand to other provinces. It now operates in Kabul and five different provinces throughout the country—Herat, Bamyan, Balkh, Kandahar, and Nangarhar.
When recounting her experience with the FLC, 2010 alumnus Diba Hareer explained that the program enables young women to envision a better future and allowed her to meet other young women with similar aspirations of improving Afghanistan.
Hareer said: “I met other women who had the same mentality as me. The FLC gave me the opportunity to connect with them, so we all together contribute to positive changes for Afghanistan. No matter how small our contribution is to our country, the main thing is that we have the mindset to bring a change!” Hareer further explained that, “such programs help young women to dream for themselves, their country, and connect with other women leaders and make those dreams realized.”
Storai Sadaat, another FLC alumnus, explains she learned the importance of promoting the rights of women in her country. “Women have been some of the most vulnerable and victimized people in Afghanistan over the past years,” says Sadaat. “Despite being victimized by warfare and violence, women’s voices are seldom either raised or listened to. Convening such programs is an ideal opportunity for women to take part in society and raise their voices and work beside men. This is the time for women to prove themselves.”
To continue expanding the impact of the FLC, in February 2011, a group composed of 18 FLC alumni launched a working group to legally register the FLC as a social institution with the government of Afghanistan. This working group will be registered as the “Future Leaders Organization,” a self-sustainable, prominent youth leadership organization operating throughout the country.
Storai Sadaat stated that the formation of the “Future Leaders Organization” is one of the most memorable and valuable experiences for her as a FLC member. Says Sadaat: “it is our goal to empower youth in Afghanistan. And very soon our dream is going to become true. The future depends on us!”
The working group is completely FLC member led. Although the working group is only in its beginning stages, IFES will support this initiative through continued FLC programming; providing an extensive network of young women leaders who may become members of the “Future Leaders Organization.”
Young women such as Kargar, Hareer, and Sadaat attest to the importance of bringing women together to share their goals and experiences. Past and current FLC members represent Afghanistan’s future women leaders, who are making important inroads which will inevitably lead to greater women’s participation for generations to come.
IFES projects have supported the development of a robust and vibrant electoral system in Afghanistan since 2002. Through its programming under the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS), IFES aims to increase the effective and educated participation of Afghan citizens in the electoral process to promote electoral transparency and accountability. Our program activities include voter outreach, women’s advocacy training, journalism training, political finance awareness building and youth initiatives.