Shop & Support
Products from Afghanistan
Beautiful hand-crafted products made by Afghan women are sold through our volunteer network in Canada. The artisans are paid for the products at the time the shipments are made to Canada and prices are set at fair wages. This initiative provides educational and economic opportunities to previously unemployed and unskilled Afghan women. A small profit from product sales provides chapter members with resources for their public engagement activities in Canada.
A large and enthusiastic market in Canada ensures the longterm sustainability of this project. For more information, email info@cw4wafghan.ca.
Please check our Calendar of Events for local activiies.
Books:
The following excellent books are available to purchase at your favourite local book stores or via CW4WAfghan at our community events (while supplies last).
Author: Deborah Ellis
The Breadwiner, Parvana's
Journey, Mud City
http://www.groundbooks.com
These award-winning young adult novels tell the story of eleven-year-old Parvana and her close friend Shauzia, who lived in Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Masquerading as a boy, Parvana works in the streets of Kabul so that her family can eat. These beautifully written, inspiring novels depict the strength, courage and hope of children who struggle to survive under the horrific conditions of war, poverty and oppression.
“Parvana and Shauzia are fictional characters, but they are very real people to me. I enjoyed their company when they were in my head, on their way to being put onto paper. Their anger, their frustration at the obstacles the world kept thudding in front of them, their sorrow, loneliness, and their triumphs when they could get them - these intimate moments they shared with me like a gift. I often try to imagine how they are managing now, in an Afghanistan that is both dangerous and hopeful. I wish I was as strong and brave as they are. I’ve received amazing letters from children who also see Parvana and Shauzia as real. They send me drawings, write sequels, and write of their own experiences with terrors great and small. The most common question I get when I meet these kids is, ‘If governments know what is happening to children, why don’t they stop it?’ Why, indeed.
We all want to be brave, we all want to find it within us to stand up to tyranny and side with those who are being beaten down. Sometimes we look to literature to remind us of how great we can be.
The money the books have raised has put women to work, children in school, and food in people’s bellies. I’ve been frequently astonished at how easy it is to radically improve someone’s life. It’s an honour to be a part of it.”
-Deborah Ellis
The Royalties from The Breadwinner and Parvana's Journey have been generously donated by Deborah Ellis for our projects supporting education initiatives in Afghanistan. A small portion of these royalties is also allocated to our operating and administration expenses, in addition to the sale proceeds from the books at our events. This allows us to continue to allocate 100% of individual donations to our projects without deducting operating expenses.
Author: Sally Armstrong
Sally Armstrong is a Canadian award-winning human rights activist and author, and one of the first international journalists to bring the plight of Afghan women to the world's attention. Her two novels bring a wealth of information to Canadian readers who strive to understand the complex issues and challenges for women in Afghanistan. Her words inspire and motivate us all to take action!
Veiled Threat: The Hidden Power of the Women of Afghanistan
http://www.penguin.ca
As this powerful and inspiring book demonstrates, the need to provide support and solidarity to Afghan women continues. Much help is still needed to erase the legacy of female oppression and poverty in Afghanistan and to effectively address one of the greatest human rights crises of our times.
Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots: The Uncertain Fate of the Women of Afghanistan
http://www.penguin.ca
This NEW book tells of women’s lives post-Taliban and unravels the threads that are strangling Afghanistan’s attempts to join the 21st Century.
Combining the searing personal stories of women with the analysis of experts and the grassroots efforts of Canadians, Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots is an accurate and impassioned portrayal of the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan today, and it suggests they are the way forward.
Photoexhibits:
CW4WAfghan has three photoexhibits that can be borrowed for your events:
- Through Our Eyes (Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan - see below)
These exhibits each have approximately 20 mounted photos (2' x 3') with easels. The only expenses involved in using the exhibits is the cost of shipping. Please call 403 244-5625 or email info@cw4wafghan.ca if you would like to learn more about booking these exhibits.
Through Our Eyes -
Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan
This beautiful book and photoexhibit of image and poetry was created by the young girls from Lake Country, BC chapter of Little Women. The girls wrote their poems during a series of poetry workshops taught by Jenelle Mitchell. After viewing beautiful photomontages of Afghan girls and Little Women members, the girls immediately responded in writing with their heartfelt poetry. This connectedness came from their hearts and through eyes--a glimpse into the lives of young Afghan girls. Little Women founder, Alaina expresses this idea of the connectedness as: “Girls in Afghanistan are just like me and my friends.”
When signing the LW4LW guestbook, a participant also expressed her appreciation of the girls’ actions: “Little by Little you will succeed.”
The melding of the pictures was developed under the direction of talented photographer and digital artist, Christian Reiner. He spoke of the importance of art to enhance the work of LW4LW: “These visual montages for LW4LW are dear to me, because the emotional and spiritual side of connectedness can be at least hinted at and sometimes
a very strong bond can be conveyed.”
Now Available:
Book Edition: “Through Our Eyes”
FOR MORE INFORMATION: EMAIL lw4lw@telus.net
The Afghan Children’s Songbook
Buy a Copy of the Afghan Children's Songbook - Orders Now Available Online
CW4WAfghan is proud to have supported the last print run of the Afghan Children’s Songbook, an amazing project run by a former Peace Corps volunteer, Louise Pascale, who lived in Afghanistan during the 1960s. Thousands of the books have been printed and distributed across Afghanistan; and a new print run is already underway. The songbook helps promote literacy and preserves part of Afghanistan's musical heritage, while giving children a gift they clearly love (check out more photos on the project website!)
You can support this project by buying a copy of the Songbook. The books are distributed in Afghanistan in their original Dari version; but an English version is now available for purchase via the project's website.
Sales of the books support the ongoing printing and distribution of the book and tape in Afghanistan. Please consider supporting this project by buying a book as a gift for someone, or for yourself. And thanks for spreading the word to others.
