Profound and Lasting Impact: Evaluating Workshops in Afghanistan

October 2006: In Afghanistan, violence, especially against women, is on the rise, making it increasingly difficult for WLP Afghanistan/Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) to carry out their work. Despite the increasingly volatile situation, AIL held an evaluation workshop in the summer of 2006 for past leadership training participants.

During the evaluation workshop, participants commented that even though a year had passed since they took part in the training, they remembered everything they had learned because the training had a profound and lasting impact on their lives.

One woman described how the Leading to Choices curriculum gave her the courage to convince her uncle to send his daughter to school. Another participant, Bahra* commented, “During the workshop we learned that we could be a leader and be useful. Now I know that a mother can be a good leader of her family.”

Najia* outlined her new advocacy efforts with several high level Afghan officials, “I have spoken with Taiaba Zahidi, a Senator, regarding the problems of some schools and teachers. I also met with Safia Saddiqi, another Senator, regarding women’s problems in my community and with yet another Senator regarding the education problem.”

Saeeda* added, “Before the workshop I thought leadership meant being the leader of a country, but after the workshop I understood that every person can be a leader in the society where he or she lives and works.”