Logar celebrates two historic firsts in honor of Women's International Day

 LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - While many countries celebrated the economic, social and political achievements in honor of Women’s International Day, Logar province hosted two historic firsts to highlight the many accomplishments of women in Afghanistan, March 8.

  The first event in celebration of WID was a visit to Forward Operating Base Shank by the only serving woman general in the Afghan National Army and the first female parachutist, Gen. Khatol Mohammadzai.

 Keeping in theme with the special day of promoting continual progress for women, General Mohammadzai took this opportunity to speak to women Soldiers, highlight their contribution and also encourage Afghan women to do the same.

“The whole world knows the military females are real heroes, they are working shoulder to shoulder, and side by side their male counterparts,” she said. “These women [Soldiers] can make other women braver, and tell them what they do. Just as you made me brave today and convinced me to come to Logar province, you can convince other ladies to come to the military and work with their male counterparts. 

She said that her journey to success was not paved without obstacles and her own fears. 

“Becoming a general, especially in Afghanistan as a female, is not an easy thing. I wanted to work hard and show other Afghan females that a woman can be a general,” she said. 

But the event would not have been complete, without General

Mohammadzai sharing her first flight as a parachutist with the ‘Sky Soldiers’.

“The first time I jumped, I screamed so hard, thinking that the parachute was just there, not moving anywhere,” she said. “There was nobody there to help me, and I thought I was just standing there not moving. I was so lightweight that all of my fellow parachutists were already on the ground and I was still in this sky. When I reached the ground it was so comfortable. I didn’t tell my family, but when my mom found out she was crying and screaming, asking what kind of job I had chosen.” 

General Mohammadzai said she hasn’t look back since and has continued to pushed forward.

The second event, celebrating WID’s and also a historic first took place not far from General Mohadmmadzai’s visit, in the women’s center of the Pul-E-Alam district, where more than 100 women attended, including Governor Lodin of Logar province.  

“What was unique was having a girl read the Koran to open the ceremony,” said U.S. Army Capt. Ramona Fastow, Task Force Bayonet’s women’s affairs coordinator. “Literacy rate for women [in Afghanistan] is about 14 to 15 percent. The fact that this girl can read and have the support of her family to get up, read [in public], gives other women hope.”

By the time, the Afghan-led event started there was only standing room available.

Many women were excited to celebrate this day, but some wanted to see more changes and voice other concerns that would improve the future of Afghanistan for women. 

“It’s a good event, hopeful for the women of Afghanistan,” said a woman from the Baraki Barak district. “[Compared to when the Taliban ruled], now there’s more freedom. We can go outside.”

Another Afghan woman, from the Juyak district said that she would like to see more vocational programs, child-care and children’s programs on the radio stations. 

This event not only celebrated WID, but allowed women from various parts of Afghanistan to come together as one voice and share ideas to improve Afghanistan, Fastow said. 

Celebrated globally on March 8, WID highlights and promotes continual progress in the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future.