Projects in the Netherlands

Press conference for Malalai Joya

Purpose: Fayaz foundation wanted to give Dutch politicians and media the opportunity to get to know Joya, and to hear from her about the real human rights situation in Afghanistan. Ms. Malalai Joya, the youngest member of Afghanistan’s parliament, was invited to the Netherlands for the first time as a speaker in a conference of the organization (FAROE). In 2003, after a historical commentary against the warlords present in a Loya Jirga, she had become world famous as an archetype of freedom of speech in Afghanistan.

Target group: Dutch politics and media.

Result: It was a successful evening. Around 40 women and men from Dutch politics and media gathered in the press conference. They asked Malai Joya with great interest about current developments in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime and the role of the international community.

Information activities in the Netherlands about LACWA projects of FAYAZ Foundation carried out in Afghanistan.

Information activities in the Netherlands was an integral part of the Legal Aid Centers for women in (Heart) Afghanistan. The main aim of these activities was to increase support for development aid among the Dutch population. Dutch Afghans in particular had to be educated and involved in the moral and / or financial support of Diaspora involvement in development projects in Afghanistan. Special attention was paid to the quality of the information activities in the Netherlands. Various information activities in the Netherlands are briefly described below.

Distribution of brochure with payment request for collection form individuals in The Netherlands for Legal Aid projects:

To provide information about our projects in Afghanistan, beautiful full-color leaflets were made. The brochure appealed to readers to support our project with a financial contribution. On certain occasions this folder was sealed with a payment request.

Fundraising campaign for women in Leiden

Objectives:

– Increase support for the Legal Aid projects for Afghan women, among Dutch women and Afghan women in the Netherlands.

– Involving Afghan women in the Netherlands in development cooperation between the Netherlands and Afghanistan

Target audience:

Women in the Netherlands. Especially women among dutiful and modern bourgeoisie. Special attention is paid to women of Afghan descent.

Collaboration partners:

– Afghan Women’s Association (Rabe-i-Balkhi)

– Christian women’s association in Leiden.

– Platform Refugee Organizations Leiden (PVL)

Results achieved:

– Distribution of 200 brochures.

– Bringing 151 people together under one roof and discussing the project with them.

– Bringing attention to the possibilities of making a contribution to development cooperation from the Netherlands.

– Collection of 350 Euro for the project.

Manifestation in Nagele

Objectives:

– Bringing our projects in Afghanistan to the attention of as many Dutch people as possible, including Dutch Afghans.

– To give a platform to someone from our local partner organizations (based in Afghanistan) so that the participants directly ask her questions about the project and the usefulness of development cooperation with support of Diaspora.

Target audience: Dutch and Afghan women and men in the North of the Netherlands

Manifestation program:

– Event had an informative character. But fun parts were added such as Afghan music, snacks and drama to bring as many people together as possible.

– Director of our partner organization HAWCA was invited to the Netherlands. She was able to provide first-hand information to participants. She was given a platform so that the participants directly ask her questions about the usefulness and the level of effectiveness of the project and about the usefulness of private initiatives in development cooperation.

– By involving the (Afghan) media in the manifestation and emphasizing the successes of the project, make a lot of publicity for the project.

Press conference

Objectives:

– Publicity for the projects through the media. Ms Selay Ghafar’s presence was mainly intended to involve the media as much as possible.

– Bringing the Legal Aid projects to the attention of representatives of various invited organizations and journalists.

– To give our local partner based in Afghanistan the stage so that the participants directly ask her questions about the project and the usefulness of the involvement of Diaspora in development cooperation.

Target audience: :Dutch and Afghan women and men. (both directly in the conference and indirectly through the media.

Methods:

– In a short photo report, the Legal Aid Center in Kabul was explained to the press and guests present.

– The chairperson of HAWCA was invited to the Netherlands. She was able to provide first-hand information to the press. She was given a platform so that the press and other attendees directly ask her questions about the project and its usefulness for development cooperation between the Netherlands and Afghanistan.

– By involving the (Afghan) media in the press conference, we ensured that the project received a lot of publicity in the Afghan Diaspora media.

Collaboration partners:

– Parliamentary Press Center (Nieuwspoor)t. Help with compiling the press release. Announcing the press conference.

– HAWCA Foundation, based in Afghanistan. HAWCA is the implementing organization of the LAC projects in Herat, Kabul and Jalalabad. Director of this organization was present in the press conference.

– Federation of Afghan Refugee Organizations in the Netherlands (represented by some board members).

– Federation of Afghan Refugee Organizations in Europe (FAROE) (represented by chairperson and some board members).

– World Journalists Foundation.

.Results achieved:

– Bringing together 12 journalists and another 32 representatives from various diaspora sites operating in Afghan organizations. Unfortunately, the turnout of Dutch journalists was limited.

– Publicity in 1 newspaper, 2 websites (World journalist.nl, Afghandiaspora.org and numerous Diaspora sites in Europe that publish in Afghan languages.

– Disseminate the project leaflets and the HAWCA leaflet among the participants.