On September 30, 2010 my dear friend Matin will once again have a benefit for his organization Afghan Hands. If you cannot attend and would still like to help you can make donations or purchase shawls through his website.
Afghan Hands
The vast majority of Afghans have suffered due to constant conflict in Afghanistan over the past thirty years, but the most victimized and brutalized by far are the women who have lost their husbands to war. Whether because of common misconceptions about the status of women under Islamic law or because of fear of retribution based on past experiences, these women have no other choice but to live with their in-laws, foregoing any chance of independence and essentially acting as servants.
After witnessing the plight of these Afghan women firsthand, celebrity makeup artist Matin Maulawizada founded Afghan Hands to allow the widows to get an education and earn a decent wage, enabling them to support their families and gain independence. The program, started in 2005 with five women, has grown to include over 200 widows today.
The Afghan Hands approach is two-pronged, involving both education and occupational training. The women receive a stipend to attend school in the mornings to learn literacy, numeracy, and basic human rights within the context of Afghan and Islamic law. This schooling provides them with at least a sixth-grade level education and gives the widows the intellectual tools to protect themselves from injustice within Afghan society. To ensure that they are truly dedicated to learning, they are tested every month, and if the women do not pass, they receive no stipend. In the afternoons, the women learn embroidery and make shawls. After ensuring strict quality control, Afghan Hands sells the best of these one-of-a-kind shawls to help with the organization's operational costs and provide the stipends for the widows.
Celebrity fans of Afghan Hands shawls include Claire Danes, Angelina Jolie, Mena Suvari, Rachel Bilson, and Mandy Moore.
What is perhaps most striking about these women is not their ability to obtain an education or support their families, but the confidence and sense of self that stem from these accomplishments. When they first join the program, these women are afraid to leave the four walls of their compounds or even make eye contact. It is heartbreaking to see their faces, scarred by years of physical, psychological and sexual abuse. But as they see that they can actually learn, that they have a chance for a better life and that they can create objects of great beauty, they begin to smile and laugh. It is then that they are truly empowered.
This past Sunday after a long morning indoors and the antsy feeling that Isa and I needed to get out I decided to walk to the water. I have been doing a lot of pro-active searching for balance in my life. Many of the books suggest grounding through walking and connecting to earth. I thought it would be best for both of us to walk to the river and feel like we were away from the stiffness of the city. As soon as we were outside I decided that maybe we should just head to Brooklyn instead. The day before I wanted to go to the Dumbo art Festival, but at the end of the day I was exhausted and Isa was asleep so it was more trouble than it was worth. I decided why not go this morning. It gave us a goal at least. With Isa on my back (that's right still using that lovely Ergo) we headed off on our adventure...to search for art. The walk was much quicker than I thought, and many more people were up walking the bridge early Sunday morning. Dumbo is directly under the Brooklyn Bridge and I must say much nicer than the last time I was there. They have amazing playgrounds and walking paths for Isa. 
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