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The
vision of OneMaker is to see Afghan women using their minds and
talents to create a better life for themselves, their children,
and their country. OneMaker exists to provide poor Afghan women
with opportunities to gain an education or vocational training
or to start a micro enterprise.
Since
2003 , OneMaker has helped Afghan girls to receive English and
technology training and continue their general studies. OneMaker
has enabled Afghan women and girls to receive vocational training,
including photography and jewelry making. There are still many
more young girls and women who need support, education, training
and encouragement to overcome disappointments and frustrations
of the past and to look forward to a brighter future. OneMaker
hopes to expand their programs and services throughout the country,
addressing felt needs of many Afghan women. Won’t you join
us in helping to make a difference?
The
vision of OneMaker is to see Afghan women using their minds and
talents to create a better life for themselves, their children,
and their country. OneMaker exists to provide poor Afghan women
with opportunities to gain an education or vocational training
or to start a micro enterprise.
Following
September 11th, there were many documentaries airing on the life
of Afghan women under the Taliban. In one documentary, the interviewer
spoke with three little girls, sisters, whose father had been
killed by the Taliban. They lived with their mother in their home.
One day, the Taliban came and wanted to use their home as a military
base. Their mother fell at their feet pleading with them to not
take their home as it was all she had left. Their response was
to shoot and kill her on the spot. For the next three days her
body laid in the courtyard of their home and the little girls
were trapped there with these men. When the interviewer asked
the girls what these men did to them in those three days, they
just held their little veils around their faces, with only their
eyes showing, and tears quietly rolled down their faces. My tears
weren’t as quiet. I wept out loud as I lay prostrate on
the floor, asking how this injustice could be. I wanted to scoop
these girls up in my arms, bring them into my house, give them
a bath and put them in a warm bed, and protect them from the evils
they had experienced. I felt so helpless a world away.
Soon I began
to get ideas about how Afghan women and girls could gain skills
that would give them a good chance at sustainable income. I just
put one foot in front of the other, connected with some women
who believed in the vision, spoke at a few places, and soon I
was off and running. It's hard to believe that less than two years
after my heart was first burdened, I have made the first voyage
to Afghanistan and started the work.
My experience
in working as a technology consultant with non-profit organizations
as well as experience as the Product Marketing Manager for a digital
signature product have equipped me with some of the skills needed
to start up and run a non-profit organization as well as to offer
training to young women who want careers in technology. There
are many skills needed, such as expertise in international trade,
graphics design, event planning, and office management and organization,
but I trust that people with those skills will come at just the
right time to take their place. If you are one of those people,
see how you can get involved today!
-Jana Harp,
Founder & Director
Copyright © 2007 OneMaker
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