The Shahram Garden for women in Kabul reopened on November 3 after decades of violent conflict had left it in ruins. Today, the rehabilitated eight-acre garden is an oasis of rose bushes, winding walkways, and fountains. The enclosure also includes a gym and sports classes, vocation training, literacy classes, and an area for the women of Kabul to buy and sell goods.
The reopening ceremony included remarks from U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry and Senior Afghan officials, including the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mayor of Kabul, Governor of Kabul Province, and members of parliament. The Shahram Garden was rehabilitated through USAID’s Community Development Program and Local Governance and Community Development projects.
The Shahram Garden is not only a safe haven for the women and girls of Kabul to socialize and learn but a critical step forward for women’s rights in Afghanistan. Fifty percent of the laborers who rebuilt the park were women. In his address, Ambassador Eikenberry noted, “Every day, the women of Afghanistan are proving that they can be on the frontline of Afghanistan’s rehabilitation efforts.”