Tag: Afghanistan

Insight into Women and Education in the Middle East

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Education of young women in the Middle East.
Education of young women in the Middle East.

Ignorance on issues of international significance is the root of many misunderstandings. The plight of women and education in the Middle East is one such topic. After speaking with Dr. Alfons Teipen, a religion professor here at Furman, I gained some knowledge on a previous topic in my blog that focused on women and education in the Middle East, particularly Afghanistan.

Here are some startling statistics regarding women just in Afghanistan:

  • Every 30 minutes, an Afghan woman dies during childbirth
  • 87 percent of Afghan women are illiterate
  • 30 percent of girls have access to education in Afghanistan
  • 1 in every 3 Afghan women experience physical, psychological or sexual violence
  • 44 years is the average life expectancy rate for women in Afghanistan
  • 70 to 80 percent of women face forced marriages in Afghanistan

Obviously education is not the only issue for females in the Middle East.  However, having widespread accessibility to education will slowly impact and improve other aspects of women’s lives.

Before speaking with Dr. Teipen, I was under the assumption that the efforts for women to gain education were minimal and that the root of this was their religion of Islam.  He erased these false thoughts when he informed me that it has more to do with their patriarchal culture and the Taliban’s skewed interpretations of original Islamic texts.

In this brief interview with Dr. Teipen, he explained the history and significance of the plight of women’s education in the Middle East as well as comparing it to our Western ideals.

Let’s hear what he had to say: Dr. Teipen Audio Clip

SASO: Winning Hearts and Minds

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Photo courtesy of Major Michael Roddey
Photo courtesy of Major Michael Roddey

“The winning of hearts and minds” is how Major Roddey described his job with SASO.  The goal is to provide aid to help the people in need but more importantly show them kindness and the good that can come out of devastation.

After interviewing Major Michael Roddey in the ROTC Department at Furman, I gained a better understanding of the military’s role with SASO.  Speaking with him and viewing photos, enabled me to become more emotionally involved in efforts that are taking place thousands of miles away. 

Major Roddey brought up several examples of assistance provided.  He explained that the military performs HA drops which stands for humanitarian assistance where supplies such as backpacks, stoves, charcoal, fruit, rice, and other basic necessities are provided.  He stressed to me the importance of giving the credit to the Afghan army for such efforts and the goal is not for the U.S. to take all the credit.  Members of SASO set up perimeters to create safe zones with men still stationed on weapons for safety. Often times SASO is responsible for securing the perimeter and maintaining security so other assistance groups can safely come in and distribute supplies. 

Major Roddey highlighted one event in particular.  He spoke about SASO’s construction of a new road and how they set up a ribbon ceremony which signified great importance to the counsel men in Afghanistan. 

In this brief interview Major Roddey gave me a clear perspective on what the responsibilities and goals of SASO.  He stressed the importance that SASO is not only used during times of war and man-made destruction but with other relief aid from things such as natural disasters. 

Here is what he had to say: Interview with Major Michael Roddey

Check out these images that highlight the reality of the situation.

The Military's Humanitarian Aid

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collage 1 

When we think of war, most imagine deadly weapons, destruction, and death.  Often times the media only shares these stories and images, and fails to inform the public of the humanitarian aid that the military provides.

Stability and Support Operations (SASO), assists with stability operations where the “goal is to meet the immediate needs of designated groups and to transfer responsibility quickly and efficiently to appropriate civilian authorities.”  They are responsible for organizing efforts to allow organizations such as the Red Cross to provide aid and assistance.  It is important to note that, SASO’s job doesn’t just involve war devastation but also trauma that comes from catastrophes such as the recent earthquakes in Haiti. 

SASOs program is two-fold.  The purpose of the support activities often consists of humanitarian and environmental assistance.  This includes:

  • Saving lives
  • Reducing suffering
  • Recovering essential infrastructure
  • Improving quality of life
  • Restoring normalcy

The other half of their duties is stability operations which uses military power to influence the political and civil environment. This includes:

  • Facilitating diplomacy
  • Interrupting specified illegal activities
  • Reassuring allies, friendly governments, and agencies
  • Encouraging a weak or faltering government
  • Stabilizing a restless area
  • Maintaining/restoring order
  • Enforcing agreements and policies

Just reading a brief article did not do justice to the scope and importance of SASO’s impact.  Therefore I delved into this topic deeper and found an individual here on Furman’s campus to help me gain a deeper insight into what exactly SASO’s goals and duties are.  In my next post, experienced active duty Army officer, Major Michael Roddey, who spent time in Afghanistan during 2006 and 2007 with SASO will give his first-hand knowledge of SASO.

A Risky Endeavor

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Yemen education

Jihadist ideas and scholarship are intertwined at Al Eman University in Sana, Yemen.  The university has more than 4,000 students and teaches courses in Islam and Western disciplines, sometimes mixing the two.  The university, the size of a village, was founded in 1993 by Sheik Abdul Majid al-Zindani, a revered spiritual leader, theological adviser to Osama bin Laden an co-founder of the main Yemeni opposition party, Islah.

Sheik Zindani, is thought to be 59 and favoring a long dyed beard.  He is well known for his effort to prove that the Koran predicts Western scientific discoveries, and there are reports that he has even claimed to have cured AIDS.  However, in 2004, the United States Treasury put Mr. Zindani on a list of “specially designated global terrorists” for suspected fund-raising for Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

The terrorism threat in Yemen is a reality.  However, will US and global intervention help matter or make them worse?  Jihadist ideas are ingrained in daily life because there is proof that these ideas are taught in schools and universities.

Sheik Zindani said that the “U.K. request for an international conference on Yemen is meant to pave the way for a U.N. Security Council resolution to approve an occupation of Yemen and to put it under a U.N. mandate.”  According to Al Jazeera, Zindani said that Washington’s “so-called war on terror is in fact a war against Islam.”

Therefore, will US involvement improve conditions and the education system in Yemen or will they cause further violence?  Only time will tell, if the involvement in rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan are any indication.

View more pictures.

(Photo: courtesy of yobserver.com)

Am I Allowed to Read?

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Education of females is vital to the nation's future.
Education of females is vital to the nation's future.

Just imagine not being able to read.  Even more shocking, imagine being  denied the opportunity to learn how. 

 An eight year old girl, Arzo admitted, “My father does not know that I am here.” “It’s my mother who has begged the teacher to take me in.”

 Mariam, is a fourteen year old tenth grade student who teaches at one of these informal schools and hopes to become a professor one day.  She teaches math and how to read and write in the local language, Dari.

“A typical day in my life starts at 3 a.m.,” she says. “I do my ablutions and pray. From 5 a.m., I clean the house and help my mother with breakfast. Then I am walking to school, which takes about 30 minutes. Our literacy class starts at 2 p.m. at the house next door. Before the lesson starts, I check the homework of my students.”

For Farida Dastgeer, a 65-year-old student, she is just learning how to read since her father never allowed her. “My whole life, I felt excluded from what’s going on,” she says. “This is about to change now. Next year, I will be able to read the announcements in the newspaper and the price tags in shops.”

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund is an agency, created by the United Nations General Assembly that focuses on improving the health and nutrition of children and mothers throughout the world.  Since 2008, UNICEF has supported informal literacy centers throughout the country. 

I cannot even fathom not being able to read yet alone not being allowed to.  Literacy is vital to promoting females in Afghanistan and securing a future.

Slideshow on Flickr of Education in Afghanistan

In the Spotlight: U.S. Soldiers

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Image Source: Spirit of America- Backpacks Delivered to Afghan Schools
Image Source: Spirit of America- Backpacks Delivered to Afghan Schools

School supplies are necessary in order to be a successful student which is a luxury that Afghan children are not given.

 The United States forces are doing their part to help re-establish the education system.  Specifically the Army’s 649th Regional Support Group is providing school supplies in the Kandahar province for both teachers and students. 

Iowa native Army 2nd Lt. Shaela Bresnan, Backpacks for Afghanistan program coordinator stated, “Unfortunately, children here lack the opportunities to educate themselves. Even when they have access to a school that they are able to attend, they do not have the physical resources to get the most out of their education.”

Backpacks for Afghanistan program began in August 2009 and will give local students to receive backpacks with five pencils, three pens, two colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, two erasers, two notebooks and two folders. Teachers will receive a kit with classroom materials such as world maps, construction paper and small chalkboards. 

“When I was a little boy, if someone had given me a pen instead of a gun, this country would be a better place,” said Afghan Col. Haji Toor Jan, Afghanistan National Police security commander of civil affairs. “The program is very good for our future. Our people will one day have doctors, pilots and engineers. This will be our future.”  

Many schools and churches and other organizations have even donated to the Backpacks for Afghanistan program.  Even you can contribute and assist with this worthy cause.

“If you change the life of a child, you change the world,” commented Army Sgt. 1st Class Elaine Holten, A Backpacks for Afghanistan organizer from Florida.

Check out this YouTube video of “Colorado for Kabul Kids” a non-profit group who provided backpacks and even you can contribute to this worthy cause.