n the 12th of November, approximately thirty women, aged 18-51, assembled to discuss the next steps in the Campaign for Afghanistani Women's Progress in the UK. This exciting introduction to the campaign enjoyed the company of many participants and representatives from the UK Refugee Council. Suraya Hadafmand, chair of the Afghanistani and Central Asian Association (ACAA), gave the first presentation, introducing the campaign aims and objectives. Farzana, the facilitator of the event, then spoke, asking the attendees if they had any questions or concerns to raise, regarding the campaign.
By having a 'women only' event, attendees were able to confidently express their views in an environment where no male counterparts were present. This enabled women to speak freely of issues that may be sensitive and personal, as well as voice their opinions and suggestions on which activities they are interested.
The success of this event is demonstrated by the involvement and participation of those that attended, and the multitude of provoking suggestions we received. Many of the topics and comments of the roundtable discussion can be found below;

 Employment- how to make training and employment opportunities accessible.
 Education- ESOL classes on Saturdays with crèche for children
 Integration- the need for help integrating into society in order to find opportunities
 Health- the need for exercise and swimming classes to relieve depression and stress
 Events- the need for more 'women only' events, due to religious and cultural beliefs
 Gender Inequality- improving women's statuses in society
 Women's role in fighting poverty, discrimination and violence
 Women's underrepresentation in decision making- how to combat this
 Eradicating discriminatory stereotypes, e.g. women forced to stay at home
 The need to make legal assistance accessible

The event not only allowed women to express themselves in an open forum, but also determined the next steps for the campaign in order to find solutions for the issues discussed. There was high consensus for the idea of promoting women’s participation in higher education institutions and professional knowledge acquisition within the UK. It was also suggested that encouraging women’s participation in decision making would enhance their representation in positions of importance. Although members recognized that achieving women’s empowerment can be done through initiative, emphasis was also applied to making use of social services and volunteering opportunities to enhance self-esteem.

A major barrier to women’s progress has been identified as a lack of family cooperation and unity. In response to what seems to be a break-down in family communication, it was suggested that both men and women search for mechanisms that can improve working relations between them, as well as to determine what makes a successful family. Members in the meeting suggested that care and respect for women should be encouraged, as they are likely to be the most disadvantaged in the UK.

Here are some of the individual views expressed by women who attended the meeting:

Adela, 30, Bromley
“I emigrated from Russia eleven years ago, and when I arrived to the UK I began studying English at a college. My interest in becoming a teaching assistance led me to study, for three months, a teaching course. During this time I came to see Dr. Nasimi the head of ACAA for support. ACAA were really helpful and Dr. Nasimi offered me guidance and information on educational issues. I now work full-time as a teaching assistant in a primary school. My advice to other women is to use opportunities available to us in the UK, such as voluntary placements, because these options allow us to gain work experience and skills. It is important to always keep references from any previous employment. Equally important is to have confidence while applying; do not worry about your language skills as many employers are sympathetic to your recent arrival in the UK.”

Nazi, 51, Bromley
“I am extremely happy with the quality of the ESOL and Women's Health classes that I attend every Saturday. I believe that those who do not attend are missing out on a valuable experience. My suggestion for a new activity would be to involve hand-work in our schedule, perhaps by knitting.”

Fazila, 21, New Cross
“I am interested to join the ESOL classes. I currently live with my husband and brother in-law's family; however my desire is to live independently. In order to become independent, I must start working to be able to financially support myself. My suggestion for Dr. Nasimi is to introduce knitting and make-up classes for women in order to stimulate creativity.”

Naeimeh, 46, New Cross
“I am a voluntary teacher at the centre, and I am very pleased with my role. I teach children at the Saturday school as well as volunteer at the Afghanistani and Central Asian Association. These experiences have shown me that education is a major obstacle for many Afghanistani women, and that a lack of proper integration can prevent access to possible opportunities.”