The NGO created in March 1996 under the name “Afghan” has become Afghanistan Libre in 2001. During five years of activity until the fall of the Taliban, “Afghan” has principally focused on advocacy and information campaigns organized in cooperation with PR agencies, different companies and a number of volunteers which mobilized their support for the cause of Afghan men and women.

Recent development

In 2001, following the demand on part of local communities in Afghanistan, Chekeba Hachemi, president and founder of Afghanistan Libre, has embarked to fundraise for the construction and support of schools for girls. Her efforts, together with the credibility and legitimacy of Afghanistan Libre and its team on the ground has allowed us to obtain important donations and grants from institutions, businesses and personalities that were used to help the Afghans educate the younger generation.

In 2002, Chekeba Hachemi in cooperation with the french magazine “Elle” has created a magazine for Afghan women under the name “ROZ” (“The Day” in dari). Back then, a team of “Elle” journalists left for Kabul to train their Afghan counterparts. Today, “ROZ” is monthly published by Afghan women.

Today

Today, Afghanistan Libre enjoys its recognition within the Afghan population that we are directly working with. It’s been ten years since we have established an office in Kabul and engaged more than thirty Afghans as full- and part-time employees to implement educational and health programmes in the regions of Afghanistan we are acting in – Paghman Province and the Panshir Valley – assisted by a French Head of Mission and our team in Paris. Cooperation with local community elders and national authorities has also contributed to the trust that we enjoy within the Afghan population. This allows us to access the regions that often are out of other humanitarian organizations’ reach.

Afghanistan Libre has constructed as well as provided material, financial and management support to three rural high schools for girls: Malalaï (Panjshir district), Azrat Osman (Paghman province) and Khoja Lakan (Paghman province). Currently it is providing support to six educational establishments – including teachers’ training; providing means of transport; providing educational and sports material. Afghanistan Libre has developed its projects further by establishing in each of the three schools a nursery and a health education center for women where they can receive information on family planning, pregnancy, delivery as well as hygiene and diet issues. In 2011 we have launched a programme of psychological assistance to Afghan women and their families.

Our assets:

• An NGO established by an Afghan refugee in France, the first female Afghan diplomat, who gathered a team of French professionals and Afghans eager to work for the cause of Afghan women and girls
• An office in Kabul
• Solid knowledge of Afghanistan’s history and its social, political and cultural background
• Support and involvement of local communities
• Use of local abilities
• Strong institutional partnerships