Think Creative - Issue 7

Creative Life

a mission-driven community

Women on the move When women have equal opportunities to go to school, find employment and be a part of decision making processes, they are a force for positive change around the world. Creative recognizes and supports women who are breaking barriers, becoming leaders and lifting up other women in their communities.

Creative Founder and Board Chair Charito Kruvant addresses a panel of Afghan women in the government and the private sector.

The Afghan Girls’ Robotics Team poses with Creative

staff after a dinner meeting in Herat.

From business leaders to robot engineers, women make strides in Afghanistan

In a country that continues to be plagued by war, instability and gender inequality, Afghan women’s growing visibility as economic actors and entrepreneurs is a testament to their resilience. In the province of Herat, Creative and regional co-sponsors convened more than 270 women entrepreneurs, other business owners and youth in a series of forums to discuss the region’s economic future, job creation and the evolving narrative on women in the econo- my. With more than 470,000 youth entering Afghanistan’s workforce each year, coupled with prolonged economic stagnation and lack of skilled labor, the demand for jobs far exceeds the country’s capacity for meaningful employ- ment. Bringing women into the conversation and into the formal economy is a critical piece of the puzzle. At the roundtable, Herat’s Director of Women’s Affairs, Anisa Sarwari, said that the province offers solid momentum for women entering the market.

“Herat has the highest number of wom- en-owned businesses [in Afghanistan] and women in business. To fully take advantage of this opportunity, women and men need to work collaboratively and in partnership,” Sarwari told participants. Creative’s President and CEO Leland Kruvant echoed her statement, saying that “there is tre- mendous entrepreneurial spirit and potential among the Afghan private sector committed to forging a better future for this country.” Perhaps no one at the events Creative hosted better exemplified Afghanistan’s potential and women’s pioneering spirit than the AfghanGirls’ Robotics Team. This group of teenage girls made international headlines after they were tempo- rarily denied visas to enter the United States for a robotics competition inWashington, D.C., in July 2019. Eventually, the Afghan Girls’ Robotics Teamwon a silver medal for their ball-sorting robot built to distinguish between contaminated and clean water. Herat Governor Abdul QayomRahimi also met

with the Girls’ Robotics Team, which hails from his province. Speaking to Creative’s executives during a separate meeting, the governor said that just two decades ago, an all-girls robotics teamwould have been inconceivable. “For amoment, I went back to the Taliban’s time when I visitedHerat and there were no schools for girls at all. I thought tomyself, are these the same girls?” Rahimi asked. “Eighteen years ago, during the Taliban time, a 15-year-old girl was confined to her home. Today, she is in grade 9, creates advanced robots and games and travels tomore than 11 countries to participate in inter- national competitions.” While the team has rightfully been celebrated for their scientific achievements, their success also demonstrates the potential for social change for Afghanistan. “I am impressed with the progress Afghanistan has made, especially with providing access to girl’s education. We will sustain these achieve- ments, make more advances and stand on our feet,” said Rahimi. n

Photos by Hasib Tareen (top left); Erick Gibson (top center and inset)

28 | Think Creative | Spring 2020