Speaking
Photo by Henry Friedman
Afghanistan: A View from the Ground opens with some surprising things she found including a children’s circus, women drivers, women studying Taekwando and basketball with male instructors and more. Scenes and stories from Kabul City, Herat and Bamiyan city and province (where the Buddhas were blown up) give one a feel for life in these different places. Again, the presentation will share the stories of women Peggy met, this time including refugees, business women, parliamentarians, Afghan expats who’ve returned, a defense lawyer and youth among others. There will also be updates on a few of the women interviewed previously. Maps and aerial shots give one a sense of place and geography. This presentation is an eye-opening and stereotype-breaking introduction to the current situation in Afghanistan. It’s best given in the hour and a half format which leaves time for questions although an hour is possible.
Women of Afghanistan, Volume Two is focused more on stories of the women themselves set against the background of the various places around the country where they live. Peggy will talk about each woman’s story and some of the issues she faces. The women come from many walks of life: wealthy and poor, educated and illiterate, young and old, a disabled woman, as well as representing a variety of ethnic groups. Peggy asked them questions such as: “What have you learned from your difficulties?” “What part of Islam has helped you the most?” and “How can women in the West best help Afghanistan?” There will be about a 50% overlap with View from the Ground (including some of the women) as it’s important to establish the context within which these women live. This presentation can be given in either an hour or an hour and a half format.
Gathering Strength: Conversations with Afghan Women focuses on women in the book of the same name. The included women overlap about 50% with the Women of Afghanistan show but in this presentation, Peggy shares background information on the women that is not printed. One hour.
Human Rights in Afghanistan shares the stories of women as they relate to various women’s and human rights issues. Drawing upon material from both the 2003 and 2010 trips to Afghanistan, Peggy shares interviews with a women’s defense lawyer, women prisoners, human rights professionals and parliamentarians among others. Discussion of Taliban vs warlord justice, domestic violence and shelters, health issues and more bring a perspective of what women in Afghanistan contend with. This presentation can be given in either an hour or an hour and a half format.
The photography exhibit, Afghan Women: Portraits and Stories, Volume Two consists of 27 portraits, each accompanied by the woman’s bio and an excerpt from her intervew. You may see samples of the exhibit on this website.