We want to re-emphasise that, in the rapidly changed and still-changing circumstances, the Linda Norgrove Foundation intends to continue its work supporting women and children in Afghanistan.
Events in Afghanistan have moved so quickly that the blog we wrote just a few days ago now looks out of date.
It’s early days and a new government will take some time to establish. Inevitably, different spokesmen for the Taliban have given widely varying messages, especially concerning women’s education. It’s reassuring that the Taliban leadership said that women would be allowed to continue their studies but, as always, the devil is in the detail and we need to wait and see how their policy develops.
Adapting
We hope that we can continue our programmes under the new regime. We have always emphasised that we help specific people in need – we don’t have the ability or capacity to change government policies or the development of institutions. We avoid politics.
We understand that other NGOs, working in areas that have been controlled by the Taliban for a while, have registered with them and adapted to operate within their requirements. We do not yet know what requirements the Foundation might have to adapt to.
If women have to be accompanied by a male relative when leaving their homes and offices, this would cause problems for our staff and programme partners, and extra costs for us.
From the beginning, we have focused on supporting women and children in Afghanistan. This will not change.
Despite the uncertainty, there are some things we can say for certain.
From the beginning, we have focused on supporting women and children in Afghanistan. This will not change.
When we selected students for scholarships, we advised them that we would support them until they graduate. This will not change.
The Taliban might decide that women will not be allowed to study some subjects, in which case our students might have to change their field of study. We hope this will not apply to those studying to become doctors, as effective treatment of women is dependent on the availability of female doctors.
However, we are also investigating the possibility of some of the medical students being able to continue their studies in the UK.
Challenges ahead
Among all the other projects we support and fund, we have worked hard over the past few years to facilitate scholarships for 160 women, 71 of whom are studying to become doctors.
We are run by a very small number of people with minimal admin costs, and had just reached a point where our systems and procedures were easing the difficult process of administration from afar, and the system was running smoothly.
It looks as though we have some more challenges ahead. But this is nothing compared to the struggles of women in Afghanistan and our thoughts are with them at this time.
John and Lorna Norgrove
Updated 20 August to reflect that we are investigating the possibility of some of the medical students being able to continue their studies in the UK.