Shindand Women Social Foundation (SWSF) Building

Women Literacy classes at the SWSF Center

Recently SWSF was able to build a center in the town of Shindand. It has office space and classroom. This has enabled us to move some of the literacy classes to the center itself, though the majority are still conducted in various villages in Shindand. About 200 of the women have started to come to the center attend the classes. We are looking for funding for the furniture for the offices and the classroom. Furnishing our center is our priority as it will make the center a fully functional place for women to study and gather on a daily basis.

SWSF Saffron Program

One of the programs that SWSF sees as a potential for women's participation in their community is farming. SWSF trained 10 women in Shoorab area of Shindand District on planting of saffron. The women were given the saffron bulps and planted them and continue to be responsible for their land under the supervision of "expert farmers". The goal is to go through the growing cycle, the harvesting, the packaging and sale of the saffron to markets up in the city of Herat. 

Women get employed to weave Gabion Basket

One of the most exciting activities that SWSF was involved in was the weaving of gabion baskets for flood protection. SWSF were able to recruit 70 women to work on a USAID funded Community Development Program (CDP). For most of the women in this area, it was the first time they were employed and after a short training were able to do their work quickly and efficiently.

Basically, they cut the steel wire, wove them together and made small baskets. The baskets were then taken down to the riverside and lined up. The men then filled them up with rocks and build a flood protection wall.   

Welcome to Shindand Women Social Foundation, Afghanistan

I welcome you here to Shindand Women Social Foundation (SWSF). An Afghan NGO, located in Shindand District of Herat Province. It was set up officially in 2010. The aim of which is to empower the women in Shindand. We are active in all sectors, literacy, agriculture, health, employment. And we believe with your donations we can do much to expand our activities.