Afghan expat returns to help rebuild her country
It was a shot heard around the world, but for Rohina Samim, then an Afghan expatriate working in Swiss banking, it was a wake-up call that could not be ignored. The "shot" was television footage of a woman being executed by the Taliban in an Afghan soccer stadium.
During her first trip to Canada in November, Rohina, now executive director of Women for Women International MFI (WWIMFI), MEDA's microfinance partner in Afghanistan, recalled how those images, witnessed 10 years ago, haunted her. "I felt this woman was talking to me, asking me why no one was coming to help her and other women in Afghanistan."
For Rohina, it was a watershed moment. She decided to leave the comfort of her life in Switzerland, to which her family had fled during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, and return to Afghanistan. Rohina was determined to find the woman's family and help them.
"It took me 8-9 months, but I found her seven children – living without water or electricity, with no money for school books. Now, with my support, these children have attended school and have a future. From that experience, I saw that I could bring change to the community. Now, I believe that microfinance provides the strongest tool for me to help."
Each day in her office in the Afghan capital of Kabul, Rohina meets women who are struggling to provide for their families and survive in a harsh environment that is decidedly unfavourable to women. She has many stories to tell of how a loan of a mere $200 can change lives, but she loves to share one in particular of a woman who started her own bakery.
"This woman, Parween, had eight or nine children. When she first came to us, she was extremely aggressive and defensive. But over time, and with a series of small loans, she has been able to build up her own bread baking business. Now, she is happy, smiling and full of confidence. With a new loan of $750, she is growing her business again."
Rohina is particularly excited about MEDA's role in the Afghanistan Challenge, in which the Canadian government matches dollar for dollar individual and group donations that are directed to rebuilding efforts in her country. For her, it means more capital to lend to women entrepreneurs.
"When you help one woman, it's not just one person – you help the whole family. She may be illiterate, but she is smart. She wants to send her children to school so they will have a future that is better than hers."
By the numbers: WWIMFI (as of October 2009)
• 13,000 clients
• 99.35% repayment rate
• Average loan $250
• 1 of only 2 MFIs in Afghanistan focused on serving women
• 123 staff members – 85% women
• Average loan officer portfolio – 300-350 clients
Interested in supporting this exciting program? Go to www.meda.org/give or you can support the Afghanistan Challenge at www.medatrust.org
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