Afghan Women's Educational Center

AWEC is a National Afghan Women's non-government organization, dedicated to the promotion of rights, self-sufficiency, empowerment and understanding among Afghan women and children through education, health, peace education and socio-economic development projects.

AWEC has its headquarters in Kabul , Afghanistan from where it runs various projects , primarily in the areas of Kabul , Paktya and Mazar-e Sharif.

AWEC was established in 1991 in Islamabad to assist Afghan refugees. AWEC was the first resource center for Afghan refugee women there. Expanding in response to acute need, AWEC opened its own high school in 1993. AWEC's key activities include literacy programs, health education, skills development (sewing, English language, advanced computer and management training), a study group for women's rights in Islam, and support networks. In 1998, AWEC created the Center for Street Children and Women in Peshawar to assist refugee women and children living in the streets, outside of the refugee camps. The Center, which offers income-generating activities, literacy, education, medical referrals, counseling services, job placement and other services, also works on social integration, networking support, skill development, trauma counseling, and education.

In order to realize its mission, AWEC works to:

• provide literacy programs for women
• provide education programs for children, particularly girls
• provide vocational training programs for women and older children
• support and mobilize women's groups
• work in the area of peace education and its intersection with women's lives and rights
• provide health services, focusing on reproductive health in particular
• assist women in dealing with issues of trauma and psycho-social well-being
• work collaboratively to achieve its mission with other organizations and individuals

AWEC receives the bulk of its funding from donor bodies but also warmly welcomes private donations which have sustained us during many periods of great need.

For more information please visit: www.awec.info