Feroza
I Rise because: “Having educated
women helps the society’s prosperity,
encourages development in all aspects
of life, and supports good governance
and stability in communities.”
F
eroza Sadat was the first woman to
work at the Badakhshan Learning
Center (BLC) in Afghanistan for
CAI’s partner Marcopolo Social Services
and Reconstruction Organization (MSSRO).
As the capacity building program manager
she helped facilitate short-term courses for
women in English, Math, and Computers
and helped with the accounting, though she
wasn’t proficiently trained in business.
In 2015 members of the Taliban learned
that Feroza was working at the BLC along-
side men, and they began to threaten her.
“I got many warnings such as threatening
phone calls and messages saying they would
kidnap me and my family and attack the of-
fice,” explains Feroza.
As the threats continued, Feroza worried
about the dangers. Instead of giving in to
the threats, she came up with a new plan.
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She applied for a scholarship from CAI to
study economics. Instead of giving up, she’s
gaining skills that make her invaluable in
Afghanistan’s workforce.
Today, Feroza attends a university in
Kabul and plans to graduate with a degree in
economics at the end of 2017. Her new skills
will become even more valuable to MSSRO,
and she will be an inspiration to her daughter
and all girls in Afghanistan.
“When I graduate I will have proficiency
in finance, management, and accounting
which are safe professions for women,” says
Feroza. “I want to work for MSSRO and
CAI to expand the programs for women and
girls. I want to also expand the scholarship
program for girls who are waiting, as I was,
to find educational opportunities to reach
their dreams.” n
CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE