Together Women Rise to Support Free to Run’s Omid Program in Afghanistan
Free to Run is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Together Women Rise, which will provide funding over the next two years for our Omid program in Afghanistan.
The continued systematic exclusion of Afghan women from public life has led to widespread hopelessness and caused increasing rates of depression, anxiety and isolation - severely impacting both mental and physical health. With the support of Together Women Rise, we’ll deliver sessions for young women in Afghanistan that improve mental wellbeing and teach critical life skills such as communication and negotiation skills - all through a yoga and physical activity-based curriculum.
Together Women Rise is a powerful community of women and allies dedicated to global gender equality. It has hundreds of local chapters across the U.S. where members come together to learn about and advocate for gender equality issues, give grants to organizations that empower women and girls in low-income communities in the Global South, and build community to forge meaningful connections with each other and with women around the world.
“Before I came to Omid, I honestly didn’t think much about how to communicate with others. Usually when someone was talking, I would either get distracted or judge quickly and not let them finish. When I joined the Omid program, we learned different topics such as self-confidence, teamwork, and respect for others’ opinions. One of the parts that impressed me the most was the skill of active listening. This may seem simple at first, but when I learned more about it, I realized how important it is.
In one session, we practiced how to just listen without interrupting and without judging.I realized that I hadn’t been listening well at all before, but rather waiting for my turn to speak. Over time, I tried to use these skills in my daily life. One day a friend of mine who was not in a good mood spoke to me. This time I tried to just listen carefully and really understand her. After the talk, she said she felt relieved and happy that someone had paid attention to her words.
In a situation like Afghanistan where many of us are facing different problems and pressures, learning these skills can really be a big help to better understand and support each other. Now, after participating in this program, I see myself as a different person. I’m more patient, I communicate better and I’m more considerate of other people’s feelings.”
