Woman Journalist Association headed by Shafiqa Habibi is operating in 17 provinces and considered as the first woman association working in women journalist sector. Since its establishment, the association has made effort to train women in various journalistic fields as report-writing, editing, filming and other print and TV-related trainings funded by Finland. In an interview with The Kabul Time correspondent, Jawzjan provincial director for woman journalist association Fatima Nik Rasouli said, “Since 2014, I’ve started as provincial representative for woman journalist association in Jawzjan and currently the association has five working committees as media and reporting, legal, finance and administrative, journalist safety and capacity building committee.”
“In legal committee of the association, we defend from rights of all journalists in the province. Moreover, in social committee, various issues as prevention of violence against women, peace, family problems and other relevant issues are discussed”, Mrs. Rasouli added.
Related to self-sufficiency of the association, Mrs. Rasouli said, “Women are not weak in all life sectors. They are able to do positive works in all life fields and support their families. Currently the association has been self-sufficient as the association has launched a training section through which the association is funded. Nearly 30 women are engaged in tailoring winter and summer clothes for workers of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sharkat (DABS) and sell them a little cheap.”
In connection with job opportunities for women, Mrs. Rasouli added, “Woman Journalist Association in Jawzjan has always tried to provide work opportunities to women in the province where a number female students graduating from school and university have got employment in various government institutions. For example, nearly 20 women have been absorbed by Promote office, while a number of others women have been employed by a number of private and government radio and TV channels.”
“One of the association’s main goal is to better train a female journalist who will be capable to follow all journalistic works in a better way”, Fatima Nik Rasouli said, adding that they had further plans to improve the association.
Before I joined and started working as Jawzjan provincial director for the association, I had worked as anchor for Ghazal Radio for three years, Mrs. Rasouli asserted. Related challenges facing the association, Mrs. Rasouli added the main problem and challenge was economic and lack of budget, asking domestic and foreign donors to help the association to have a radio in which graduated female students follow their further trainings.
It is worth mentioning that Fatima Nik Raouli has written and compiled five books about various issues. Her first book titled ‘Everybody should know himself’ was issued in 1996.
