A Celebration of Achievement, Resilience, and Women’s Empowerment

ECDC’s Women Empowerment Program coordinators organized an event to celebrate the graduation for Afghan women who successfully completed various vocational and skills-development training.

The event brought together approximately 50 women from refugee and immigrant communities, marking an important milestone in their journey toward self-reliance and economic empowerment. ECDC’s former employment specialist, Najia Hashimzada, partnered with Fardus Yusuf to establish the group in 2024 after they noticed that many Afghan female refugees were having difficulty integrating into US society and lacked independence and work experience because of the difficulties speaking English, using public transportation, and bearing much of the responsibility for daycare of their young children.

For three years, ECDC’s Women’s Empowerment Program has conducted dozens of workshops related to employment, health, and parenting, field trips to teach women how to move around the area, and career events to help women prepare for the workforce. In those three years, the group has grown from its original 20 members to more than 60 and expanded from Alexandria into Arlington and throughout Northern Virginia.

The ECDC leadership congratulated the graduates on their achievements and encouraged them to use their newly acquired skills to improve their lives and contribute positively to their communities. “I would love to congratulate you on your success and graduation. I am very glad that today, you have new skills and are able to take part in supporting yourself, your family, and your community.” said Tsehaye Teferra, PhD, president and CEO of ECDC.

ACC DC-Metro Executive Director Sarah Zullo also spoke at the event. She highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting women through education and vocational training programs. “We started the Women Empowerment Program to equip women with essential skills that help them become self-sufficient. Today, I am delighted to see so many women graduating from vocational training programs,” she said, adding, “We remain committed to continuing our support and helping you achieve your goals.”

Some members of the community who have been generously supporting the women’s group also attended the event, including the Mt Olivet church in Arlington and the Arlington Community Foundation. Some of the women also spoke at the event. They expressed gratitude to ECDC for supporting them during a very stressful and vulnerable time in their lives as they build a new life in America. One graduate, Mrs. Fareshta, shared her appreciation for the sewing training she completed. “We are grateful and very happy that we learned new skills in the sewing class. these skills will help us improve our livelihoods and even start our own businesses in the future.”

The celebration featured a colorful fashion show showcasing some of the participants’ work and talents. At the conclusion of the event, each graduate received a certificate commemorating their efforts. By providing vocational training and other essential services, the organization continues to help individuals build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.