Afghanistan Project

From Success in Russia to Afghanistan

Nearly a decade ago, Lynn Hinkle, founder and president of WOW, led a group to Russia to help women cultivate a voice in the country’s emerging democracy.

She made six trips to Russia and the Ukraine where WOW trained several hundred women, many of whom were well-educated, who wanted to become active in politics by running for office or by simply participating in policy level discussions about issues concerning women and families. WOW successfully coached them in campaign tactics, including public speaking and creating and selling a message.

As a direct result of the training, and the encouragement, women in St. Petersburg who had failed to get the attention of the mayor formed their own party and pushed for his opponent, who went on to claim victory. The new mayor then appointed one of the women to his Cabinet.

Galina Starovoitova, who was described as the most famous woman in Russia, served on the WOW board. Starovoitova was Boris Yeltsin’s first spokesperson, a member of parliament and the country’s first legitimate female presidential hopeful. Tragically, two gunmen assassinated her outside her St. Petersburg apartment in 1998.

WOW is profoundly aware of the risks women take breaking ground into visible leadership in an emerging democracy. WOW works closely with organizations inside target countries to ensure that exposure does not put women at uncalculated risk who have already shown great bravery in keeping their families alive and communities together.

Hinkle states, “Out of the caves of Afghanistan, there is a Harriet Tubman, a Rigoberta Menchu. There is a brave woman who has already fought the odds to survive. Teach that woman leadership and policy skills, encourage her, and give her the tools, and watch what happens.”

WOW recognizes the realities in Afghanistan pose a different challenge, and is confident to tailor the successful WOW model to the unique cultural, political and religious aspects of the region.

The diversity of needs of Afghanistan women is so great, from survival to self-actualization, WOW is currently working to identify individual women and NGOs or other organizations with whom safe communication can take place. Please share your suggestions by clicking here.

Concurrently, WOW is working with experts in Afghanistan to discover how and what the women of Afghanistan want to be empowered to do. WOW is committed to identify and meet the needs and desires of the women in countries it serves, rather than impose an American model or perspective.