Afghan Citizens Advice Centres
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My name is Greg Collins and I'm a Politics graduate from the University of Lincoln, and I recently began a role as a Political Engagements Intern with the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA), a South London based refugee charity.
The work of the charity revolves around empowering, educating and uniting Afghan's and refugees from different nations living away from their homeland, helping them gain the skills and knowledge needed to exercise their rights, and to achieve success and prosperity here within the UK. Over the years the work of the charity has included running ESOL classes, supplementary schooling, providing legal advice drop in sessions as well as work around women's empowerment.
The founder and director of the organisation Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi who himself came to the UK as a refugee, has worked incredibly hard to promote human rights and democracy for the diaspora and within Afghanistan itself. He is passionate about the importance of helping people integrate into British society, helping them to understand and adapt to British values and to the way of life generally.
I have been grateful for my time at the ACAA, as I have been able to learn a lot as well as build and develop a range of employment and life skills. Working in a small dynamic charity with an international scope has been a great way to work with a range of different people, and to learn more about Afghan politics and culture. I feel I have built a genuine interest in the way the charity sector operates, matched with a confidence in my own aspirations within the field. I have been incredibly impressed by the commitment and dedication of all involved with the ACAA, providing help and support to some of the most vulnerable people.
However as well as the UK operations, the charity also runs two Citizen's Advice Centres within Afghanistan itself, one based in Kabul and the other in Pul-e-Khumri. Modelled on the UK Citizens Advice Centres, they aim to give free, impartial legal and other advice to the most vulnerable people in Afghan society in order to help them improve their quality of life, access their rights and escape the perils of poverty.
I am using my position as a Political Engagements Intern to help raise funds for these advice centres, as while they have been supported in previous years by the UK Government (DFID), they are in need of further funding if they are to continue their work. In my view they undertake incredibly important work to provide support and advice to ordinary Afghans in need of support, as evident from the fact that from September 2013 to August 2015 over 6,000 people used the services they provide at the centres.
They are incredibly important if you look at a specific issue such as women's empowerment within Afghanistan. By far the most common issue that advice is asked for is domestic violence, followed closely by divorce and unemployment. 23% of all cases revolve around family matters, and the number of women using the services is ever increasing with women accounting for around 63% of all clients during that two-year period. Working closely with local authorities and ministries, they do the best they can to provide the necessary support.
The work is crucial if you look at the national picture, where life is hard for women fighting for their rights. Female activists and Parliamentarians as well as women in public life generally are sadly faced with regular threats and violence in their challenge for equality. Research by Amnesty International suggests that sadly 87% of women in Afghanistan experience domestic violence. It is also the case that only 13% of females over 15 years old are literate, with almost double the amount of boys being enrolled within school compared to girls. When you see shocking statistics such as this, it is easy to see the importance of Citizen's Advice Centres in providing the necessary support.
The ACAA would be incredibly grateful for any donations supporters would be able to make, and even a small contribution can make a difference. While the ACAA may be a small charity, it does have big aims and objectives. Further funds are necessary for the organisation to continue helping to support people to access their rights and escape poverty.
If you would like to see more about the work the ACAA undertakes please see the link here: http://acaa.org.uk
Thank you for your time,
Greg Collins.
The work of the charity revolves around empowering, educating and uniting Afghan's and refugees from different nations living away from their homeland, helping them gain the skills and knowledge needed to exercise their rights, and to achieve success and prosperity here within the UK. Over the years the work of the charity has included running ESOL classes, supplementary schooling, providing legal advice drop in sessions as well as work around women's empowerment.
The founder and director of the organisation Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi who himself came to the UK as a refugee, has worked incredibly hard to promote human rights and democracy for the diaspora and within Afghanistan itself. He is passionate about the importance of helping people integrate into British society, helping them to understand and adapt to British values and to the way of life generally.
I have been grateful for my time at the ACAA, as I have been able to learn a lot as well as build and develop a range of employment and life skills. Working in a small dynamic charity with an international scope has been a great way to work with a range of different people, and to learn more about Afghan politics and culture. I feel I have built a genuine interest in the way the charity sector operates, matched with a confidence in my own aspirations within the field. I have been incredibly impressed by the commitment and dedication of all involved with the ACAA, providing help and support to some of the most vulnerable people.
However as well as the UK operations, the charity also runs two Citizen's Advice Centres within Afghanistan itself, one based in Kabul and the other in Pul-e-Khumri. Modelled on the UK Citizens Advice Centres, they aim to give free, impartial legal and other advice to the most vulnerable people in Afghan society in order to help them improve their quality of life, access their rights and escape the perils of poverty.
I am using my position as a Political Engagements Intern to help raise funds for these advice centres, as while they have been supported in previous years by the UK Government (DFID), they are in need of further funding if they are to continue their work. In my view they undertake incredibly important work to provide support and advice to ordinary Afghans in need of support, as evident from the fact that from September 2013 to August 2015 over 6,000 people used the services they provide at the centres.
They are incredibly important if you look at a specific issue such as women's empowerment within Afghanistan. By far the most common issue that advice is asked for is domestic violence, followed closely by divorce and unemployment. 23% of all cases revolve around family matters, and the number of women using the services is ever increasing with women accounting for around 63% of all clients during that two-year period. Working closely with local authorities and ministries, they do the best they can to provide the necessary support.
The work is crucial if you look at the national picture, where life is hard for women fighting for their rights. Female activists and Parliamentarians as well as women in public life generally are sadly faced with regular threats and violence in their challenge for equality. Research by Amnesty International suggests that sadly 87% of women in Afghanistan experience domestic violence. It is also the case that only 13% of females over 15 years old are literate, with almost double the amount of boys being enrolled within school compared to girls. When you see shocking statistics such as this, it is easy to see the importance of Citizen's Advice Centres in providing the necessary support.
The ACAA would be incredibly grateful for any donations supporters would be able to make, and even a small contribution can make a difference. While the ACAA may be a small charity, it does have big aims and objectives. Further funds are necessary for the organisation to continue helping to support people to access their rights and escape poverty.
If you would like to see more about the work the ACAA undertakes please see the link here: http://acaa.org.uk
Thank you for your time,
Greg Collins.
Organizer
Greg Collins
Organizer