jump to navigation

Pierce Elementary Students Respond to the Need for Female Education December 17, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Events.
Tags: , , , ,
add a comment

Pierce School Students at the Literacy Walk

The presence of Pierce School’s 6th grade students and their families, wearing Barakat’s bold orange T- shirts and carrying banners as they walk full of spirit, was an exciting sight at Barakat’s Walk for Literacy this past October.  The students were happy to be part of the event as they knew it was for a purpose which was dear to them–helping those who are truly in need with the knowledge that their support can bring a change.

These committed students have played a vital role in the success of the Barakat’s Literacy Walk in 2008 and 2009.  Not only did a large number of students participate with their parents and teachers, but the group also raised more than $8000 dollars!

It’s easy to wonder why 6th grade students from Brookline, MA would choose to raise money for women and children on the other side of the globe.  What does the Walk for Literacy mean for these students?  How do they believe they are helping education around the world?  Read the students’ answers below to learn why they took up the cause with such passion.

What is Barakat’s Role?

Arthur, a 6th grade student, defines Barakat’s mission as “a non-profit organization which is helping to educate women and girls in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Every cent that is donated to Barakat, goes to help and to build schools for girls”.

Why Walk for Literacy?

Isabelle shared her opinion on what inspires her to work for the literacy walk: “One day a lady from the Barakat organization named Arti came to our school to speak about Barakat and girls and women in Afghanistan. We were all inspired by what she said and we were horrified by some of the facts she told us. We decided to split into three groups to help Barakat raise money. They include fundraising,  advertising, and understanding Afghanistan. Together we are trying to get people to go to our walk, the walk for literacy.”

How to Help Walk for Literacy?

Thea of class 6L shared her views: “I know I’m doing it for a good cause. I know there are many people who aren’t as privileged as me. It feels good to be helping others. I feel very lucky to have the education after learning about the girls in Afghanistan. So I decided to do the walk. My goal is $100, I’m walking 5 miles. I hope my money goes a long way. If I am able to raise $100 I will be able to send 2 girls to school for a year.

Abby, a fellow student, says, “I think it is really good idea to do the walk to help people in Afghanistan get education. My goal is to raise $50 over the registration fee of $25. I also want to get a couple of people to sponsor me, so I can raise as much as possible. I hope a lot of people go and help raise money for the girls in Afghanistan.”

Jason tells us “I’m excited as I’ve done these kind of walks before to raise money and help the cause. My goal is $100. I think others should also come do the walk.  It will be fun and a lot of Pierce students and teachers will be there.”

On the Walk Day – The View from 5 Miles: By Cierra

“The crowd was getting larger as more people were coming. After everybody settled down with their food and coffee the founder of Barakat started making speech. The first people he thanked were the parents, teachers and students of the Pierce School. While he was talking it seemed that everybody’s eyes wandered over to the Pierce School banner which our school had designed to represent who we are. After the speeches we headed on our walk. About 1/5 through the walk it started raining but the people were determined to finish. Soon in the distance I could see the Barakat sign hanging on arched entrance. I was happy that I competed the 5 mile walk, but my feet were KILLING ME! When we arrived, we were greeted and congratulated by the other walkers.”

Empowering women in poverty December 15, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Education, Women.
Tags:
add a comment

Something unique happens when women get together.  The conversation is different, the atmosphere changes, and barriers are removed.  Teachers working in Barakat’s schools see this happen in our women’s literacy courses, which are taught by women for women.  In a male-dominated society, these courses are an opportunity for women to express themselves freely, spend quality time with other women outside of their own home, and gain literacy and numeracy skills that can literally change and truly improve their lives.

Something similar is happening with an organization called Dining for Women.  This grassroots campaign, started by women to involve women in giving to other women, invites women to get together and “dine in”, donating the money they would have otherwise spent at a restaurant toward women living in poverty. 

Dining for Women funds programs focused on health, education, and economic self sufficiency.  Dining for Women also emphasizes collective giving as those who participate can make a larger joint donation than individuals working alone.  At Barakat, we realize that women play a significant role in family, education, society, and development, and our goal is to empower women—young and old—to impact the world around them.

Much like Barakat, Dining for Women recognizes that women living in extreme poverty may not have access to support systems and as a result, they and their families may suffer.  The goal of both Dining for Women and Barakat is to give women the tools they need to provide for themselves and their families.  Barakat’s education programs empower women at the grassroots level, as women who become literate are able to find jobs and make a living to support their families. Both Barakat and Dining for Women share the vision that empowering women is key in breaking the cycle of poverty.

Barakat and Maternal Health December 7, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Afghanistan, Women.
Tags:
add a comment

Maternal health is vital issue around the globe but unfortunately it does not receive the attention and action that it deserves.  Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world, next to Sierra Leone.  According to a recent Christian Science Monitor article, two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population has no maternal nor child health services and only ten percent of Afghanistan’s hospitals are equipped for Cesarean surgeries.  Eighty percent of maternal deaths in Afghanistan are preventable.  According to a recent Washington Times article , causes of these statistics include:  lack of facilities, impassable roads that isolate communities, and a severe lack of medical professionals to treat and educate.  The odds are stacked against women as they are unable to afford a hospital, cannot access one even if they can afford it, and because of cultural values of their conservative societies, are prohibited from examination by male doctors.

There has been a growing trend as of late where women are taking the initiative themselves to promote maternal health.  Midwives are going from village to village in Afghanistan teaching how to efficiently wash hands and encouraging even very young girls to listen in and educate themselves on health care.  This is vital in a country where poverty and illiteracy are a part of everyday life and access to health information is extremely limited.  In addition to maternal care, the midwives teach women how to support a baby’s head and how to cut the umbilical cord when the child is born.  According to the Christian Science Monitor, this has been life-saving for many mothers and it provides an income for the midwives, increasing their economic standing in society.
Barakat’s programs focus on a more comprehensive health education system as our schools provide basic health services and education.  Health checkups and treatments are available for our students.  Patients who need specialized care, treatments, and medicine are taken to the hospital.  Barakat aims to have health check-ups on a monthly basis in the future.  The trend of NGO’s making positive impacts on Afghanistan’s social problems is a necessity because the Afghan government simply cannot provide the necessary services for it’s people at the moment.  Until these services can be provided for the Afghan people, NGOs will continue to be necessary to improve people’s livelihoods through health care, food, and education.

Maternal Mortality cuts the life of so many women short and is extremely detrimental to development of their children as well as society as a whole.  Together with other NGO’s, Barakat is working to reduce these staggering statistics.

Why Non-Profit’s Will Succeed in a Recession Economy December 1, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Education, News.
Tags: , , , , ,
add a comment
The start of the recession in the United States was in part due to large corporation investments in unstable or unsure companies.  The result of this was a plethora of huge deficits and the losses of pensions and 401ks for thousands of Americans, not to mention the emotional toles and damaged peace of mind.  Since then, the economy has been mired in an unstable status and people and companies are taking less risks with their money.
Some make the argument that since companies have less resources, donations and corporate sponsorships for non-profits will decrease dramatically.  This assumption is misguided and over-exaggerated.  Though it is true companies and individuals have less capital to work with, they will use that capital in the most efficient and certain way.  They want to know what they are getting for their money and where their money is going.  They most importantly want a sure return on their investment.
Non-profits fit the mold of these conditions perfectly because investors know exactly what they are getting, and they know what their money will be used for.  The social return is certain and the risk is very low.  Non-profit’s are like treasury security bonds with a social return.

Barakat provides a transparent view of their financial information showing what percentage of donations go where. When people invest in Barakat, they know what percentage goes towards its education programs, and what percentage is used for running the organization.  Investing in Barakat is one of the most certain things one can do with their money.  By donating to Barakat, one is investing in women and children who with education, will lead this world in the future.  That’s an investment with a return that is priceless.

Fundraising at Mantra November 16, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Afghanistan, Education, Events, India, Pakistan, Women.
add a comment

Barakat held a fundraiser in downtown Boston at Mantra last Thursday evening.  The event was a huge success and guests enjoyed Mantra’s French-Indian cuisine while supporting a great cause.  The evening featured a silent auction on various items from Karma, a local shop that sells fine imported crafts from Tibet, Nepal, and India.  The night also featured a raffle for gift certificates as well as other exciting prizes.  

David Boeri from WBUR’s Radio Boston hosted the evening as master of ceremonies.  Barakat’s executive director, Damon Luloff gave a brief introduction about Barakat and then the founders, Chris Walter and Habibullah Karimi, followed with a short description of Barakat’s history and how the organization was started.  Mariam Raquib was also a featured speaker.  Mariam was forced to flee Pakistan during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.  While living in Pakistan, she met Afghans living in refugee camps, and this experience profoundly shaped her views about the importance of human rights and the rights of children to receive an education.  

South Asian dance groups provided the entertainment for the evening.  Students from Burlington High School performed a combination of three Bollywood songs combining hip-hop and traditional dance.  Tibetan musicians sang next, followed by Dance Philippines, a nonprofit organization composed of professional Filipino-American volunteers to bring attention to the Philippine culture through music and dance. Boston College Masti, a dance troupe of the South Asian Students Association at Boston College combined traditional Indian and fusion music in an inspiring routine. Northeastern University’s Kinematics and a Tibetan masked dance were also among the fabulous performances that brought attention to South Asian culture.

Without Phuni Meston of Karma Imported crafts, this event would not have been possible.  Phuni is from Tibet and had been relocated as a young girl to Southern India where she was a victim of human trafficking and was eventually brought to the United States.  In 1995 Phuni was one of the Tibetan delegates who participated in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing advocating for social justice and Tibetan women’s rights.  She continues to speak publicly about her experiences to create awareness and work towards ending human trafficking.

Barakat’s event at Mantra raised over $5000 for literacy programs in South Asia!

Barakat strives to decrease the gender gap November 16, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Afghanistan, Education, India, News, Pakistan, Women.
Tags: , , ,
add a comment

The Gender Gap Index: A Reliable Resource for Analyzing Country Development

After giving a speech to a mainly male audience in Saudi Arabia, Bill Gates recalled a member of the audience asking him if it was realistic for Saudi Arabia to be ranked as one of the top 10 countries in the world in technology by 2010.  Gates responded saying, “Well, if you’re not fully utilizing half the talent in the country you’re not going to get too close to the top 10.”

Gates was on to something.  When analyzing international problems such as poverty and lack of education, we tend to focus on a country’s level of wealth and access to resources.  This narrow focus neglects many variables and does not take into account factors, such as gender equality, that influence major issues.  Thus, it is important to add an additional measurement that is independent of country income and development to solve global issues.  The World Economic Forum developed the gender index which has become one of the best indicators of national development as universal equality and a country’s development go hand in hand. 

The World Economic Forum, a Geneva-based nonprofit organization that focuses on social development as a cornerstone of economic development, created the gender gap index and provides updates as well as other information on this topic. The gender gap index examines the status of men and women in relation to one another based on individual country statistics.  

There are 14 different variables that contribute to the female to male ratio, and they are compiled from various international sources.  The purpose of this index is to provide a credible country ranking and to create awareness of the challenges that countries face in closing gender gaps.   This information is vital because reducing these gaps creates opportunities for a greater and more successful world.  

The latest Gender Gap Index can be viewed here.  There are economic, educational, and political factors that must be taken into account when determining the gender gap index.  The factors are listed in the table below:

Economic Variables Female/male labor force participation Female/male wage for similar work Female/male income disparity Female/male in high positions
Education Variables Female/male literacy rate Female/male primary enrollment Female/male secondary enrollment Gross tertiary enrollment
Political Variables Female/males in Parliament Females/males at ministerial level Number of years of a female/male head of state  

This index is linked to economic performance in a key way.  A country’s economic performance is based on how well it is utilizing its talent base. Women make up 50% of the base population, so the countries that develop resources to benefit their entire population, will eventually perform the highest economically.  If governments make gender equality a high priority of public policy, their overall development will improve drastically, and many existing transnational problems such as poverty, extremism, hunger, and conflict will be much more easily resolved.  

Several of the most developed and industrialized countries are in the top ten ranking in the gender gap index.  The top ten in order are Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, Ireland, Philippines, and Lesotho.  Not surprisingly, at this point in time countries in South Asia are ranked very low according to the 2009 report.  India is ranked 114 out of 134 countries included in the Gender Gap Index and Pakistan is ranked 132 out of 134 countries.  Afghanistan is not included in the Gender Gap Index due to lack of reliable information, but it is surely very low on the list.  

This index is vitally important to Barakat because it provides a measure of gender equality and demonstrates its effect on national development.  Economic development is impossible without social development.  Gender disparities severely hinder a country’s ability to pull itself out of poverty.  Barakat empowers women and aids in decreasing the gap between males and females so that successful development becomes feasible.

We at Barakat believe that development in this region, and in all poverty-stricken countries, is dependent upon every individual’s skills and talents, not just half the population.  Barakat strives to make the gender gap between females and males in the education sector smaller as it currently works for the equal education of men and women in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.  By focusing on education for women and girls, as well as training in human and women’s rights, we hope to make education for girls a norm for South Asian society.  Female empowerment is the key to poverty alleviation and development.  It is a challenge to formally educate women in schools because of the taboos against co-ed schools, the distance of the schools from the home, and the fact that many schools have only male teachers.  Barakat’s literacy courses are ideal because they provide women with education close to their homes and many are run solely by female teachers.  Barakat overcomes obstacles for female empowerment and educates women and the community so that the gender gap in South Asia can decrease and communities can bring themselves out of poverty.  

Barakat at Mantra! November 2, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Afghanistan, Education, Events, India, Pakistan.
add a comment

Thursday, November 12 from 6:30-8:30 pm

Come join Barakat and Karma as we celebrate South Asian culture with music, dance and food!  Enjoy a taste of French-Indian cuisine from Mantra, one of the hottest restaurants in downtown Boston, and get an exclusive performance by local music and dance groups.  Tickets are $50, and all proceeds benefit Barakat’s work to promote education for women and children in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.  Hosted by David Boeri from WBUR’s Radio Boston.

Reserve your tickets here!

Or join us for the After Party starting at 9pm for just $5 featuring a live performance from KINEMATIX and music from DJ Rob EG. All proceeds support Barakat’s literacy programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India!

Walk for Literacy was a success! October 29, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Afghanistan, Education, Events, India, News, Pakistan, Women.
add a comment
Barakat’s 2nd Annual Walk for Literacy took place this weekend and it was a huge success!  Walkers were ready to go at 10:30 and very enthusiastic to support literacy regardless of the rain!  

The students from Pierce Elementary School were especially excited about the event.  They spent the weeks leading up to the Walk raising money and promoting the event as well as writing a blog about their efforts.

Damon gave a brief introduction and thanked everyone for making it out to Cambridge followed by Habibullah Karimi who took the stage to discuss the cause and what it means to him.  Habibullah is one of Barakat’s founders and he is originally from Afghanistan.  Habibullah discussed the importance of educating youth as it enlightens individuals and brings light into their lives rather than darkness.  He is a true believer in the power of education.

SherBaz Ali Khan was our next speaker, an intern at Barakat who is originally from Pakistan.  He gave a very moving speech about the cause, its importance, what it means to him, and what it means to the people of South Asia.  This event comes at a very unfortunate time for South Asia, particularly Pakistan, as schools have been shut down in the region following an attack by a suicide bomber on a university in Islamabad.

Moderate points of view are a common side effect of increased access to education and opportunity.  It is proven that in communities of Afghanistan and Pakistan that have higher rates of literacy, the Taliban has less of an influence.  With access to greater opportunities, it is less likely that individuals will be drawn to a militant organization such as the Taliban.  It is no surprise then, that schools are often targeted for attacks.  Education represents a threat. 

Sherbaz went on to discuss how lucky we are here in the United States because the government would never shut down all of the schools in the country.  Something like this is unheard of in America.  

Arthur, a sixth grader, recently wrote in the Pierce School Walk for Literacy blog that learning about this situation “really makes you think about how lucky you are to live somewhere where you just have to fret about homework everyday, not war.”

Despite the risks that they face, girls continue to make great efforts to receive an education.  The BBC’s Hunger to Learn series has followed the lengths that individuals will go to receive an education.  In one instance, teachers were threatened by the Taliban after they had taken control of Swat but administrators decided to keep the school open regardless.  They complied with demands by the Taliban that they all wear burkas and the Taliban agreed to allow the school to stay open.  Unfortunately, the Taliban did not keep its promise and the school was destroyed shortly afterwards.  Because the Swat Valley has come back under Pakistani control, this school was able to open again although it was not repaired.  

Efforts by the Taliban have hindered students from achieving to their full potential and many fall behind in their studies.  Despite these grim facts, many of the students and teachers have continued to attend their lessons and study in the shambles that were their classrooms because they truly recognize the value of an education.  

Barakat is not immune to the threats that the Taliban imposes on students and teachers trying to advance their communities.  Security for Barakat’s schools remains the number one issue both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Though threats from extremists do permeate the communities we serve and have negatively affected our school attendance, there is still substantial turnout from both boys and girls.  This shows their bravery and their love of learning.  Those who use violence against education are weak and misguided, and need education more than anything to realize the strongest connection: that of a community who pulls together peacefully for progress.  Those who choose education are strong because strong people choose to communicate with words, respect, and peace.  

Preventing Violence Against Women: On The World Stage October 28, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Education, News, Women.
Tags: , , ,
add a comment

Violence against women has a severely detrimental effect on not only a woman’s sense of self worth, but her family’s well being and the well being of the community as a whole.  The issue comes to discussion tables of the world’s leaders this year in the UN security council meeting and in the US Congress in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The world has begun to recognize the need to lift the status of women worldwide and international agencies both governmental and non-governmental have enacted various proposals for the advancement of women worldwide as they have recognized the need to end violence against women.

Preventing violence against women has been a goal for several years and has had some significant advances, though large-scale violence against women is still widespread.  The study Ending Violence Against Women: from words to action  by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon found that numerous tactics for ending violence against women have been implemented thus far worldwide.  This study profiled strategies that worked successfully.  Not surprisingly, education tactics were shown to be a highly successful method of reducing or enforcing laws regarding violence against women. 

Some examples of successful efforts:

  • Educating the public involves challenging discrimination by changing community attitudes.  Denmark launched a nation-wide government campaign in 5 languages so that all members of the community could be involved.
  • Informing community and religious leaders of negative effects of violence and discrimination against women.  In Egypt, local and religious leaders were informed of the adverse effects of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting which was a common practice at the time but is no longer as prevalent. 
  • Changing Men’s attitudes to end violence against women.  The White Ribbon campaign started in Canada in 1991 has developed educational material and action kits aimed at transforming men’s attitudes by distributing them to schools, businesses, and labor unions.  The White Ribbon Campaign now spans 47 countries.
  • According to a recent Huffington Post article , Women for Women International trained 400 mullahs in Afghanistan to incorporate ideas of women’s rights and women’s value to society in their Friday speeches.  
  • In the DRC, Women for Women International recruited thousands of men to participate in their training program.  At the end, 91 percent of graduates agreed that there are important reasons for a husband to stay with his wife if she has been a victim of violence and 93 percent of participants stated that the program encouraged them to prevent violence against women in the community. In fact, one of the leaders of the militia who was known to command his fights to rape discontinued this policy when he learned about the spread of the HIV virus.

Education is the key to jump-starting efforts to curb violence against women.  Through education, Barakat works to curb gender discrimination before it starts!  The common denominator in each of these examples of successful efforts at eradicating gender-based violence is education and dissemination of information about the problems associated with violence against women.  Barakat’s literacy programs and classes are very much vital to implementing ideas of gender equality and female empowerment because it allows for classroom interaction between boys and girls early on.  Providing a co-educational experience can expand people’s minds and bolster their respect and understanding for other individuals, irrespective of their gender, religion or ethnicity.  People develop their idea of society and normal community at early stages, so it is important that both boys and girls are given the opportunity to attend school together, increasing the likelihood that gender equality can occur in countries where it is not currently seen today.  Barakat’s schools aim to serve both girls and boys so that discrimination does not have a chance to develop.

Not only does Barakat provide literacy courses for participants, but it also provides teacher training for human rights.  Barakat believes that good education programs must include ideas of human rights in their curriculum.  For lasting peace and female empowerment to be possible, the concept of human rights and consequently women’s rights, must be ingrained in society.  Barakat’s learning programs work to make this a reality!  In fact, in 2008, Barakat ran a program with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission for teacher training in human rights.  The program focused on the current situation of women’s rights, the history of human rights, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and laws for punishment of human rights violators.  By weaving ideas of human rights and women’s rights into our courses, Barakat hopes to instill the idea of female empowerment as a vital component to ensuring peace!

Barakat’s Founders in Boston! October 27, 2009

Posted by barakatinc in Afghanistan, Education, India, Pakistan.
add a comment

Barakat recently welcomed a visit from Chris Walter and Habibullah Karimi, co-founders of Barakat, into the office for a Question-and-Answer session with the staff and interns.  It was a great opportunity and we were excited to talk about new developments and Barakat’s direction in the future!  The visit began with a discussion of the beginning of Barakat as an organization and concluded with questions from our staff members about various topics of importance to our cause.  

Barakat began as a carpet making venture to generate income during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.  As the Russians took over the region, Afghans had two choices:  fight alongside the Soviets or fight alongside the mujahideen.  In response, millions of Afghans fled –women and children by road, and men through the trails at night.  Many fled to Pakistan, where the government was struggling to provide public schools for its own citizens, never mind the refugee community.  This is where Barakat’s work began.

Barakat began in 1987 as the Ersari Turkmen Weaving Project in the refugee camps of Pakistan.  The purpose of the project was to teach weavers techniques in carpet production.  Cultural Survival provided a grant and the project became very successful and generated a great deal of profits.  Profits were received by Yayla Tribal Rugs, Chris Walter’s Cambridge based company and were then used towards funding Barakat’s projects.  

Barakat built its first school in 1994 in Attock, Pakistan to provide the refugee community with the chance to better their own lives.  At the time teachers faced a great deal of difficulty convincing parents to send their daughters to school because they did not see a valid purpose for educating girls.  Many parents felt that the carpet weaving industry that was generating income at the time was sufficient; education, they said, was a waste of time.

Chris and Habibullah were not deterred, and they called a meeting of some of the most influential people in the community, including the tribal elders.  They emphasized the need for progress in the community and the value of education. To reach out to parents who remained uninterested in the newly established school, schoolteachers traveled to families’ homes to share their own stories of how education had given them new opportunities in life.  These teachers, primarily Pakistani women along with some Afghan women understood the culture and community concerns and were successful in convincing parents of the invaluable opportunities that education provides.  As time went on, Chris and Habibullah opened three more schools to meet the increased demand for education.  Girls that had graduated from the schools were instrumental in bringing more girls from the communities to enroll.

Despite various successes, there are still a number of challenges.  In 2001, when the Taliban was kicked out, there was a much greater sense of positivity and this resulted in a higher rate of female enrollment.  The recent resurgence of Taliban control has generated hesitation and fear about the safety of girls and the safety of their families.  Thus far, Barakat has been successful because the name itself, being of Muslim origin, has a positive and powerful resonance for South Asia.

Another key to the safety and security of the organization is the fact that Barakat is able to sustain a sense of legitimacy among members of the community. Barakat Afghanistan works with community leaders to help maintain this legitimacy in the villages in which it works.  At the same time, although there has been success in enrolling children in school, Chris noted that in Afghanistan “there is still a whole generation coming along in parts of the country that don’t have an education.”  Barakat hopes to expand its literacy programs and build more schools.  In the future, one of our greatest goals is to be able to fund students who pursue higher education after completing Barakat’s literacy courses.  

Opportunity is the key to building peace in war torn countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Chris highlighted the fact that “most [militants] are not ideologically strongly committed to the Taliban.  It’s just that they have no education, no jobs–the Taliban gives them money, pays them well–it’s a job.”  Barakat seeks to provide opportunity in South Asia where options are limited because, as Chris and Habibullah emphasized, “education sheds light and dispels the darkness of war.”