Just over 3 years ago the Taliban recaptured Kabul, following the departure of coalition forces, and now controls the entire country of Afghanistan. With this takeover have come increasingly pervasive and repressive rules and controls that severely limit the dignity, rights and opportunities of women and girls. Currently girls and women cannot, amongst a myriad of restrictions, attend school after age 12 (and soon to be amended to grade 3!), with a few exceptions cannot work outside the home, cannot speak in public, cannot travel unless accompanied by a man, cannot appear in public without wearing full body covering.

ACTION TAKEN: In Ballarat Victoria, a small group of committed people decided that one way to support its local Afghan community would be to show solidarity with the pain they experience at seeing their country men and women suffer under an oppressive regime. And so was formed the Ballarat Afghan Action Group, of which I am a member. BAAG (pronounced BARG) sounds like a Farsi word meaning ‘garden’. We like to think that BAAG goes a small way to helping people flourish.

Over almost 3 years BAAG has:
-       Collaborated with a small group in Afghanistan to get lifesaving food aid to impoverished families, especially single women-led families and those with no means of providing.
-       Supported a small group of teachers to provide education for girls.
-       Conducted a series of public events in Ballarat to raise awareness and understanding of the ongoing dire plight of Afghans – especially women and girls.

 Listen here to a recent ABC radio interview describing BAAG’s work BallaratAfghanActionGroup 21June 2024.mp3

 “I have come that you might have life .. and life to the full” Jn 10:10

 "Your legacy is every life you've ever touched" Maya Angelou

  Contribution from Colleen Jackson rsc