Thank you, Brenda, for all that you have shared with us--and everyone,
for your questions and contributions.  I have found it really
iinspiring, and enlightening.

And it's wonderful to hear about the booklet in Dari that selects Rosa
Parks as the notable U.S. woman.  Especially today, Dec. 1, which is
being celebrated this year to commemorate her life (and recent death). 
In Boston, perhaps elsewhere, a number of people are taking today off
from work, and adults and students together are participating in a march
to City Hall in support of civil rights and economic justice, in honor
of Rosa Parks' birthday.  So, it couldn't have been more timely to hear
about this today!

Laurie Sheridan 


>>> BBell at edc.org 12/01 12:12 PM >>>

Hi Donna --
 
Sorry to be so long in responding to this question about non-Muslim
women.  
 
Only 1% of the population is not Muslim. (of the Muslim population, ca
80% are Sunni and 19% are Shia).  And, as best I know, most of this 1%
lives in Kabul.  The literacy program that I'm working with does not
have activities in Kabul, so no, I haven't been in touch with Hindu
Afghans.  Or Christian Afghans, of whom there are a few, I'm told.
 
A follow up comment to my post from earlier today:  I have a copy of a
booklet (in Dari) that was distributed at the eliminating violence
conference, about women (around the world, in Afghanistan, women's
issues).  It a joint publication, I think, of UNFPA, the government of
Afghanistan, and Women Without Borders (and maybe more organizations - I
can't read the Dari).  It contains some great illustrations. The one on
the cover is of three women standing on a globe (with symbols of women's
work/contributions - books, pots, a stethoscope, a scythe). They are
holding their arms up toward the sky --Two of the three are wearing
hijab, or scarves, and the third does not have her hair covered.  The
title translates something roughly like the old slogan 'women hold up
half the sky' --  I love it!
 
And -- one more note -- inside the booklet there is a map of the world,
with pictures of notable women from various places in the world.  The
one woman pictured from the US is Rosa Parks.  I love it!
 
Finally -- it has been so great to connect with friends through this
discussion -- Donna, Uju, Lisa, Sissy (hi!), Barb - and others -- and to
meet new people as well.   Perhaps this glimpse of life in Afghanistan
will encourage some of you to come here for a while.  I hope this thread
of discussion about women and literacy internationally continues for a
while.  I'll be available on the list for the next few days, so even if
we've reached my December 1 cut-off point, let me know if you have more
questions.
 
Brenda

________________________________

From: womenliteracy-bounces at dev.nifl.gov on behalf of Donna Brian
Sent: Mon 11/28/2005 9:00 PM
To: The Women & Literacy Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WomenLiteracy] RE: Afghan women



Hi Brenda and all,
Hope all is well with all of you and that you all feel you have a lot
to be
thankful for.

On NPR this morning was a segment about Afghan refugees in Germany
being
sent back to Afghanistan, the German gov. having decided that they were
no
longer in danger there from the Taliban.  The segment was saying this
was
especially hard on the Hindu Afghanis, since they did still feel they
would
surely suffer if sent back.  It made me wonder about your programs and
whether you have contact with Afgani women who are not Muslim.

Donna Brian
djgbrian at utk.edu 


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