The department of womens’ affairs in Badakhshan and the provincial governor’s office on Sunday celebrated the opening of women’s training centre and women’s market in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan. The opening ceremony was attended by hundreds of representatives from Badakhshan line departments, provincial council, civil society activists, women activists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, elders and religious leaders, said a statement issued by Afghan-German Cooperation on Sunday. Dr. Shah Wali Allah Adib, acting governor of Badakhshan, and Zofnoon Hasam Natiq, head of the local women’s affairs department, were also present on the occasion. The training centre and market were planned and built by the department of womens’ affairs (DoWA) at a cost of 24 million Afs funded by the German government, said a statement issued by Afghan-German Cooperation on Sunday. The aim of the training centre, said the statement, is to promote gender equality and deal with women’s affairs as a cross-cutting topic and provide women leaders with the capacity they need. “The training centre will focus on issues such as legal awareness, violence against women, women’s rights, English language skills, computer and management skills and healthcare,” reads the statement. The women’s market, near the centre, will help local businesswomen market their goods and services in Faizabad and generate employment, the statement said. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Natiq said one of the major challenges women face in Badakhshan is lack of training possibilities and a forum to learn new skills and market their goods and local produce. The women’s market, near the centre, will help local businesswomen market their goods and services in Faizabad “In Faizabad, the women’s training centre and women’s market are both part of a high-priority initiative that will help build women learn how to addresses the challenges they face in their districts and communities,” said Mrs. Natiq. “With better skills, women can grow domestic production and provide employment for women and men in Faizabad and in the 27 districts of Badakhshan province.” Dr. Frank Pohl, BMZ Development Commissioner, represented German Cooperation with Afghanistan at the ceremony. The blueprint for the women’s training centre and market was first drawn up in 2006 by DoWA in cooperation with the provincial governor’s office (PGO) in Faizabad. In 2011, the proposal was prioritized and decision for construction of the building was made by the provincial development committee (PDC).
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