Canadian Women 4 Women in Afghanistan and Red Pashmina Inc. to Host Fundraiser Saturday

The Peterborough chapter of Canadian Women 4 Women in Afghanistan (CW4WAfghan) and Red Pashmina Inc. will be hosting a fundraiser at the Silver Bean Café to benefit educational programs for women in Afghanistan.

Members of the Peterborough Chapter of CW4WAfghan Janet HonsBerger, Joanne Rowland and Janice Ephgrave.

The groups will be selling red pashminas, handmade crafts from Afghanistan, used books and other accessories from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Money raised at Saturday’s events will go to the national Canadian Women 4 Women group, which supports educational programs for women and girls in Afghanistan.

“Now more than ever this is important, because of the situation in Afghanistan, the Taliban is restricting the education of girls.” said Melodie Mcullough, CW4WAfghan. “ It also gives hope to the women of Afghanistan to know that other women around the world are thinking of them and trying to support them at this time.”

Currently, the Taliban has banned girls from pursuing education beyond primary school in Afghanistan.

The CW4WAfghanistan are now focused on adapting and continuing to deliver educational programs where possible while campaigning for the human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

In the past they have funded projects like Gender Equality in Teacher Training, which alleviates the chronic shortage of qualified female teachers and Afghanistan Reads! which offers literacy classes to women and out-of school girls.

Red Pashmina Inc is a grassroots initiative based in Peterborough that started in 2010. They have red pashmina’s for sale year round at Hi Ho Silver and at the New Canadians Centre. Money raised gets donated to CW4WAfghanistan.

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Red Pashmina Announces Next Phase Of Their Campaign, Recognizing Women In Peterborough

Thanks to the Peterborough community, the Red Pashmina Campaign was able to raise $6,700 in 2012 for women in Afghanistan. The money will go toward supporting their Lantern Fund, an initiative that funds teacher training programs in Afghanistan.

The next phase of the campaign will focus on the local component—to recognize and celebrate the incredible women in Peterborough by sharing their stories. Ten women nominated by the community before January 31^st will be profiled in the Red Pashmina photo exhibit during the SPARK Photo Festival. The campaign will be working with five local photographers on photo essays to be displayed at Natas Cafe this April. Proceeds from the auctioning of the photos will go toward educating women and girls in Afghanistan. If you wish to sponsor a photo essay or for more info, email redpashminacampaign@gmail.com.

Watch these videos from the Red Pashmina team of Maryam Monsef and Jessica Melnik to learn more...

[Red Pashmina Campaign]

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Red Pashmina Campaign To Empower Women Debuts At Peterborough Santa Claus Parade

Red Pashmina Campaign, a grassroots organization determined to empower women locally and around the world, is set to debut their initiative this Saturday (December 4th) at the Santa Claus Parade in Peterborough. The campaign is raising funds for a maternity clinic in Afghanistan—a country with the second highest infant mortality rate in the world—through the sale of red pashminas.

But in tandem with this effort, the campaign is asking Peterborough residents to nominate women in their own community who are making an impact. Residents can nominate women of their choice by purchasing a red pashmina. Red Pashmina Campaign volunteers will be handing out nomination forms on Saturday afternoon, and following the parade, pashminas will be available to purchase ($15 for one or two for $25). They will also be available for sale at a variety of locations around the Patch in the next few weeks.

For more info, call 705.559.9977 or email redpashminacampaign@gmail.com.

[Red Pashmina Campaign]

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Pictured: The front side of the postcard that will be handed out at the parade