Arzu Projects & Programs  

Education

Arzu’s social contract requires that all children under the age of 15, and at least one woman from each household attend education classes that cover literacy, basic numeracy and units on health, hygiene, nutrition and human rights. In 2006 we began offering similar courses to men.  

Where children cannot attend a government school, Arzu partners with education providers and pays for classes to be set up in villages. Since most girls are well behind the education standards for their age group, Arzu funds “Fast Track” classes so they can catch up and join their peers at a government school wherever possible. 

In 2006, Arzu offered its first scholarship to a young woman from Andkhoi named Negina to continue her education beyond the Afghan equivalent of high school. Negina graduated a two-year midwife training program in February 2008 and will be in residency at a local clinic for the next year, thanks to a grant provided by the Beyond the 11th Foundation.

In 2008 we provided two more scholarships. Ferozan from Bamyan will be attending a private four-year school to get her law degree.  Rahima, from Kabul, will attend Kabul University for four years to receive her degree in computer science.

Click Here to read about Negina-Arzu's first scholarship recipient. 

Healthcare

While there are clinics and health facilities in Afghanistan, they are few and far between in the rural areas. Arzu began its healthcare program by providing the critical missing link-- transportation for pregnant weavers and family members. Our health monitors in each region visit homes weekly to assess who needs to visit a clinic and to arrange for transport. Arzu tracks immunization visits for newborns, making sure they go to the clinic three times to get a complete set of shots.

We take a broad-based approach to recognizing critical health needs and are in the process of expanding the services we offer to our weavers.  As our program has expanded, we have often been able to bring family members with other ailments to the clinics. In 2006, we expanded our healthcare activities to include a visit to our weaver villages by a mobile eye camp, run by the International Assistance Mission.  Weavers and their family members received eye examinations to check vision and detect diseases. Hundreds of pairs of prescription glasses, reading glasses and eye medicines have been provided to families.

Additionally, Arzu is researching innovative ways to provide clean drinking water to areas that lack it – a major health problem in a country where 75% of people lack access to clean water. In March 2008 we completed the construction of a water catchment tank in one arid village in northern Afghanistan. If successful, we plan to undertake similar efforts in other villages.

Click Here to read personal accounts of Arzu's impact in the field.

Work Safety Program

In 2007 Arzu implemented a worker safety program to address ailments common to carpet weavers. We trained our Health Monitors to understand the symptoms of TB, and brought women in Kabul and Andkhoi to clinics for TB tests. We provide surgical masks to prevent the inhalation of fibers and gloves to keep weavers’ hands warm, eye examinations and glasses every three years, and basic hygiene and nutrition workshops. 

Community

While Arzu directly helps weavers and their families we also believe it is important to extend benefits where possible to the larger community. Arzu shared the construction costs of a new school in the Faryab province, where many of our weavers live.  Arzu partnered with the Ministry of Health to provide assistant midwife and Community Healthcare Worker training in Bamyan in 2008, and plans are underway for a women’s bathhouse in Bamyan.

Arzu strongly believes in local capacity building to develop skills and knowledge that will remain with the people of Afghanistan. Our fifteen person in-country staff is all-Afghan. Wherever possible, we contract with local NGOs and NGOs that employ primarily local staff. When undertaking a bricks and mortar project like the bathhouse, we hire Afghan locals to do the work.