29 OCTOBER 2011 | KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

 

Few Afghan women have opportunities to pursue careers in media-related activities. Media professions are both risky and at odds with traditional Afghan society. The journey toward a media career is riddled with challenges, especially because women have few opportunities to receive professional training using modern equipment. A few institutions offer training, but their fees are unaffordable for most women. Dubbing foreign films and animations is a distinctive area. It requires vocal acting and precision. Dubbing skills are sought after by several Afghan TV stations.

 

After years of working for national TV stations and gaining experience and skills, Khadija established the Van Services Organization to provide training for women in media-related activities. She registered the organization with the Government of Afghanistan and managed some small-scale activities, but she did not receive funding for any projects until 2010, when she was referred to USAID by the Afghan Women Business Federation. Khadija was awarded a grant to implement a four-month training course on dubbing and editing for 15 young women.

 

"The grant enabled us to train girls in this area. Now we can do dubbing and sell the products to TV stations," said Khadija at the closing ceremony of the grant. Several participants have received jobs with media companies in Kabul as a result of the USAID-funded training program.

 

During the grant period, participants dubbed a cartoon animation. Khadija intends to send the dubbed film with a proposal to a national TV station that specializes in programs for children. "I am quite confident that this proposal will be accepted, because the quality is better than what they usually show," she said.