WAVE Partnership Initiative

Join us as we form the advisory council. (Download the form to join the WAVE Partnership Initiative Advisory Council and upcoming Trade Delegations/Cultural Explorations to Kabul.) This advisory council will set the stage to develop the future of empowered womenworld wide. Through WAVE we can help women rebuild their lives and provide a window of opportunity for women-owned businesses in the United States.

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On June 27th, Wafa Kanan, CEO and President of Unique Image, and Director, VITA Board of Directors, had the honor to co-host the “Women Partnering for Economic Growth in Afghanistan Conference” in partnership with NestlesNBS, The Valley Economic Alliance and The Valley International Trade Association (VITA) at Sen. Curren Price’s office located at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

A coalition of business leaders were assembled to hear the Hon. Muhammad Younus Naw Andaish, the Mayor of Kabul, Afghanistan discuss how he is looking forward to working with businesses in the United States on a multi-billion dollar infrastructure procurement projects. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together enthusiastic females business, government and community leaders to help develop and mentor female business leaders in the newest emerging global market, Kabul, Afghanistan. This collaboration is called Women Achieving Value and Empowerment or WAVE for short.

The Mayor of Kabul shared valuable insight and vision he has for his country and in particular the desire to advance the position of women and her role in society as well as the importance of partnering with women-owned businesses in California.

The former civil engineer turned mayor of Kabul, Afghanistan, is winning praise by using his 17-hour work days to promote repair and provide homes to the poor or homeless. In the past eight years the city’s population has grown from 1.5 million to nearly 5 million without any formal planning, and most of the roads are unpaved. “To be a mayor for Kabul with the equipment and the facilities that this organization has is very difficult,” Naw Andaish says. “There are big demands from the people, but we have little resources.”

As Afghanistan rebuilds their country, Mayor Naw Andish feels contracting in Afghanistan has emerged as a force multiplier, front and center in achieving strategic economic development.

“I was impressed to learn of his amazing accomplishments for the short period since he has been appointed mayor by President Karkai. Only a true leader would be able to embark such change and make an impact for his city and community,” stated Kanan.

To many this is a great business opportunity and while this is true, there is a need to unite in solidarity for humanitarian reasons as well. There are women around the world who need champions. People who are willing to understand the culture of Afghanistan and guide their entrepreneurial spirit while maintaining their cultural values.

Many Afghan women have a similar story. They are deprived of the many essentials of life such as water, electricity, income, health, stability, peace, and home. Some of the statistics are staggering, while 48.8% of the 23.9 million people in Afghanistan are female, only 12% of females can read and write, 57% of girls who are married do so before the legal age of 16. In addition, women make up 70% of all manufacturing workers and 44% in the agricultural sector. Only 47% of working age females and currently active on the labor market.

Women play a major role for improving the quality of life in their society and we can help instill the entrepreneurial spirit in Afghan women while maintaining her cultural values.

For this purpose the ALO Foundation pledge our support to the WAVE Partnership Initiative.

Please join other like minded individuals concerned with these issues as we form the advisory council. This advisory council will set the stage to develop the future of empowered Afghan women.

To get involved contact our executive director at 818-727-7785 or email executivedirector@alofoundation.org as you are invited to ride the WAVE.