Technical Training for Women
Workshop Empowers Women to End Gender-Based Discrimination
Women from across Afghanistan paid tribute to International Women’s Day during the culmination of an all-women’s technology training. In an effort to raise awareness about women’s rights and promote gender equality, these passionate youths presented a series of inspiring digital stories on issues ranging from motherhood to wearing the burqa.
For four days these female youths participated in the Take Back the Tech! digital storytelling workshop. Take Back the Tech! is a collaborative international movement that unites and empowers women to utilize information and communication technologies to end discrimination against women.
“New media is not just for journalists,” said Parwana from Women Activities & Social Services Association (WASSA). She continued, passionately exclaiming, “As an Afghan woman who works directly in society and in close contact with different people, this [new media] will allow us to transfer our voices and pain.”
During the workshop, participants learned how to use various new and traditional media tools to express themselves and enhance their advocacy efforts to end gender-based discrimination.
“It’s a space where women can express themselves, and this is particularly important in Afghanistan where there are limited opportunities to do so,” said Nighat Dad. “We hope this will inspire more women to join the Take Back the Tech! campaign.”
Under the USAID-funded Afghanistan Media Development & Empowerment Project (AMDEP), Internews Network- Afghanistan organized the digital storytelling workshop to empower women’s use of new media technologies and applications. AMDEP strives to build the capacity of local, independent media through technical support, hands-on training, business development, and strengthening the institutions, networks and associations of the media industry.
© 2013 Internews Network