“I like to work voluntarily in social activities, especially with youth and women”, said Hadisa Wali, an organizer and team leader for the 5 Million Women Campaign.  Ms Wali is one of many young women who contribute their free time to the Afghan Women Network (AWN).  “We are the AWN Youth Social Committee. We take part in social activities and civic education”.

The 5 Million Women Campaign was designed by AWN with the support of IFES STEP. The purpose of the event was to emphasize the importance and acceptability of women’s participation in the election process in Afghanistan. Young volunteers, such as Ms Wali, worked very hard to make this historic event attractive and well organized.  
Ms Wali is part of the new phenomenon of volunteerism, the belief that individuals can bring social and political change to Afghanistan by volunteering their talent and time.  The young women working for AWN are committed to improving women’s rights.  Their presence was visible from the moment participants entered the Loya Jirga area where the event was held.
Dressed in white and green, the volunteers checked purses and distributed green scarves, caps and bags. Inside the Loya Jirga Tent, other groups of young women in white and green moved through the audience passing out water bottles, answering questions and organizing the speakers. They were a very active and impressive group.

 What is the attraction of volunteerism for these young women?  Hadisa Wali just graduated from high school and was recently in Germany.  She is a footballer and was a member of Afghanistan’s National Female Football Team. She has a busy life but she spends several hours a day working as a volunteer.  “I want to motivate Afghanistan’s youth to join these kinds of committees and to serve their country in many ways. As we are the next generation, the future of Afghanistan belongs to us. So must work to make it better.”

 
The volunteer culture was destroyed in Afghanistan a long time ago. But now the youth are trying to re-create this culture not only in Kabul, but in other parts of the county too.  Young people possess the force, talent and commitment to bring about the dynamic transformation that our country needs.  The spirit of the young women like Hadisa Wali is an inspiration to other youths and an example of how good things can happen when citizens believe in the democratic process and contribute their time and skills to building their nation.