A Goat for an Afghan Woman

Afghanistan, battered by decades of war and chronic political instability, has seen a further worrying erosion of women's rights in recent years. The Taliban's return to power in 2021 marked a dramatic turning point, imposing increasingly severe restrictions that have relegated women to the margins of society.

Afghan women now find themselves deprived of basic rights: excluded from university and high school classrooms, prevented from working, forced to restrict their movements and wear the burqa, and exposed to an increasing risk of domestic violence and abuse. These restrictions have a devastating impact not only on the lives of individual women, but on Afghan society as a whole.

The exclusion of women from education and employment has triggered an unprecedented economic crisis, exacerbating poverty and food insecurity. Gender inequalities have worsened, further marginalising women and creating a deep sense of frustration and anger. This situation, if not urgently addressed, risks triggering social tensions and further destabilising an already fragile country.

In essence, Afghan women today live in a context of increasing oppression and deprivation, with negative repercussions on all aspects of their lives.

Our commitment

In the face of the serious humanitarian crisis and the systematic violation of women's rights in Afghanistan, Costa Family Foundation, in collaboration with SAAJS (Social Association of Afghan Justice Seekers) and the Association Groups ‘Insieme si può...’ since 2014 has been supporting a socio-economic development project focused on the purchase and delivery in the form of micro-credit of dairy goats to women who are alone and/or victims of violence.

The primary objective is to provide them with the necessary tools to achieve economic self-sufficiency, thereby improving their quality of life and that of their families.

The project involves the purchase and distribution of dairy goats (3 for each family; 15 families in total each year) to Afghan women selected on the basis of socio-economic vulnerability criteria. Each goat represents a long-term investment, as it provides a source of income, food security and is also a small asset that can acquire value over time.

The impact of the project on the lives of Afghan women has been profound and multifaceted. By donating a goat to each family, the initiative has set in motion a process of change that goes far beyond mere economic improvement. Not only because these families are obliged - within the year - to donate a goat to help another family in turn (thus triggering a virtuous circle), but because these women acquire a central role in the economic management of the family, becoming active protagonists and no longer mere beneficiaries. Goat rearing has increased their autonomy and decision-making power, fostering a gradual but significant emancipation.