Family to speak about journey from Afghanistan at Red Pashmina Walk
Money being raised for education of women, girls of country, ‘who are crying out for support’
Participants of the 14th annual Red Pashmina Walk will take to the streets of Peterborough on May 4 to raise money for the education of women and girls of Afghanistan.
Registration for the walk is at Emmanuel United Church, located at the corner of McDonnell and George streets, and begins at 1:30 p.m., followed at 2 p.m. by a presentation from Khadija Yawari and her husband, Mohammad Ali Sabah, who will share their story of escaping the Taliban to come to Peterborough from Afghanistan with their two young children and Yawari’s mother.
The walk begins at 3 p.m. and has been organized by the Peterborough chapter of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WAfghan) and the Red Pashmina Campaign (redpashmina.org/about-us).
Red Pashminas, needlework, jewelry and books will also be available for purchase.
“I will speak about our trip and how it happened and I will try to express the problems of women and young girls in Afghanistan and how they are getting serious,” said Yawari, who belongs to the Hazara ethnic minority in Afghanistan, which is the most vulnerable minority in the country and has faced a long history of discrimination and genocidal attacks.
The family left Afghanistan two years ago, making its way first to Pakistan and then to Germany before arriving in Peterborough last August.
Yawari was the manager of scholarship projects working with Gawharshad University, founded by Dr. Sima Samar, and the University Women Helping Afghan Women in Afghanistan. Her husband had been working as an administrator, finance manager and acting director with the Shuhada Organization, which was also founded by Samar. He was involved with different projects supporting children and women throughout the country, as well.
Over the past 14 years, Red Pashminas have been sold and worn around the world as a symbol of solidarity and have raised thousands of dollars to help Afghan women and children obtain an education.
Funds raised have gone toward projects such as teacher training, community literacy classes and libraries, a free online library of educational resources, gender equity in teacher training, school starter kits, computer science curriculum development and other grassroots initiatives.
“Please join us as we walk in solidarity with the women and girls in Afghanistan who are crying out for support from a world reeling from terrible conflicts,” said Daphne Ingram, chair of the Peterborough chapter of CW4WAfghan.
“We have been steadfast in the condemnation of the Taliban and are currently providing humanitarian assistance to starving families and online resources to girls unable to access any education,” she said. “Atrocities committed by the Taliban now include public floggings and executions of both men and women.”
The impact of the banning of girls and women from an education beyond Grade 6, which began when the Taliban took over the country in 2021, has increased child marriage, worsened economic pressures and created a sense of hopelessness.
To support the walk, you can attend May 4, sponsor a friend or make a donation. Send e-transfers to peter borough@ cw4wafgh an and include your address for a receipt. Send a cheque made out to CW4WAfghan Peterborough to Daphne Ingram, 129 Long Lake Rd., Apsley, Ont., K0L 1A0. You can also donate online by visiting givecan.keela.co/peterborough-redpashmina-walk-2024.
For information on CW4W Afghan or to become involved, visit the national website at cw4wafghan.ca/ get-involved.
Library book sale
The Friends of the Library book sale takes place Friday, from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The sale offers lots of good reads at low prices.
The selection includes bestsellers, Canadian authors, fiction, non-fiction, award winners, children’s books, rare editions and collectibles, CDs and DVDs.
Please bring your own bags.