NCO speaks at International Women's Day event

Air Force Link ^ | Capt. Stacie N. Shafran, USAF

[SandRat]

3/17/2009 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- The Afghan women and girls were curious. As they waited for the English words to translate into Dari, the room remained silent, a look of awe sprawled across their faces.

For Tech. Sgt. Dawn Allison-Hess, the moment was just as captivating.

Nearly 125 Afghan women and girls listened as she and guest speakers, such as a female Afghan judge, doctor and teacher addressed the audience during Panjshir's International Women's Day celebration March 8 at the Astana Guesthouse in Bazarak District.

The event, organized by the Panjshir director of women's affairs, highlighted economic, political and social challenges as well as accomplishments of the valley's women.

"It was a tremendous honor to be invited to speak, along with numerous key leaders from the Panjshir Valley and Kabul," Sergeant Allison-Hess said. "Who would have thought they would want to have an American woman speak to Afghan women?"

Deployed from Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Sergeant Allison-Hess is the intelligence officer for the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team.

She has also been instrumental in the Panjshir Valley's women's affairs movement. She regularly meets with the province's director of women's affairs and the two female elected provincial council members to discuss projects and opportunities for the valley's women.

One such project, equipping 100 women and their families with the supplies to operate their own chicken coop businesses, is growing in popularity throughout the valley.

"The families receive the supplies, but ultimately what we're doing is empowering the women, increasing their education and economic freedom because they can work from home, caring for the birds, selling the eggs, as well as breeding the chickens," she said.

It's because of this combined effort, involving the Afghan government, the PRT and a variety of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, women's rights, as well as educational opportunities and health care, are improving around the country. This is one of the reasons why commemorating International Women's Day is important here.

"Events that allow the women and girls to gather, relax, learn and talk to one another allow them the chance to accentuate the positive developments for women's rights and their increased role in society," Sergeant Allison-Hess said.

Afghanistan is still a very restrictive society, where women are often prevented from becoming active citizens. On this day, a majority of the women and girls arrived at the celebration wearing their burkas, but removed them once inside the guesthouse.

"It's a sign of progression, as well as comfort, when the women remove their burkas. It's not like this everywhere in Afghanistan quite yet," Sergeant Allison-Hess said.

During her speech, Sergeant Allison-Hess shared a similarity between Afghan and American women.

"The reason I can stand before you as a woman serving in the U.S. military is because of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of countless women who came before me. I am grateful for their dedication, as I know your daughters and granddaughters will be grateful to you for selflessly striving to secure their future," she said.

Following the speeches, the guest speakers, women and girls conversed with one another and feasted on a traditional Afghan lunch of pilau, a rice dish made with raisons and carrots, meat and vegetables.

"I will always remember this International Women's Day for the rest of my life. I admire the Panjshir women because they are driven to create a better life for themselves and their families," she said. "It's humbling to think their lives will improve more in the next five-to-10 years than they have in the last hundred years, and in some small way, my team and I are helping them get there."

[SandRat]

Tech. Sgt. Dawn Allison-Hess, accompanied by interpreter Jamila, speaks with nearly 125 women and girls from Panjshir Valley who attended the March 8 International Women's Day celebration in Bazarak District in Afghanistan. The audience heard from the province's deputy governor and a former female Afghan judge. Sergeant Allison-Hess is the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team intelligence officer and is deployed from Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Stacie N. Shafran)

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