By: Rukhshana Media
A women-only library has opened in Bamyan province after its founder secured financial backing from Barak Foundation, an Afghanistan-based NGO focused on education and health.
Nikbakht Sana, a Bamyan resident, opened the library on February 1 to promote a culture of reading and create a reading environment for women and girls. Her startup costs included 20 percent of her own funds and an 80 percent financial investment of 150,000 afghanis (USD$1600) from Barak Foundation.
Mrs. Sana told Rukhshana Media that the library already has about 600 different books with plans to expand, and said that although the library space is only for women, men are allowed to borrow books and return them after reading.
Hamida Mohseni, 25, a social and cultural activist in Bamyan has welcomed the news of the library space for women and said she is very happy that such an environment exists for women.
She has encouraged the local Taliban officials in Bamyan province to allow more spaces like this and stay true to Bamyan’s history as a center of cultural activities.
The library has opened at a time that most educational options are closed to women, including schools, universities, and educational institutions. Ms Mohseni said this discrimination, based solely on gender, has caused increasing concern for women, but the opening of something like the library is a sliver of hope for women.
Beheshta Ahmadi, 32, a Bamyan resident, said in an interview with Rukhshana Media that the library is a beacon of hope for women and a sign of how they will never give up learning and education despite the many heavy obstacles in imposed on them. She said such an environment will facilitate the promotion of reading among young girls also and encourage the next generation to read books.
