Afghan Women Skills Development Center

Success Story
My name is Gul Sika, daughter of Haji Mohammad, originating from Kandahar province's
Arghandab district. I am married with three daughters and one son: Karima, aged 11; Aisha, aged
7; Uzra, aged 3; and Wahidullah, aged 5. Previously domiciled in the 7th district, our family was
compelled to relocate to Zari district due to the upheaval of the civil war. Following a year, with
the restoration of stability, we returned to Kandahar city and resettled in our former residence
within the 7th district, where we currently reside in rented accommodation.
As a homemaker, I am dedicated to managing household affairs, while my husband fulfills his
role as a laborer and head of our family. I ensure the education of my children, with Karima in
grade 4, Aisha in grade 3, and Uzra and Wahidullah in grade 2. Despite the challenges, my long-
standing aspiration has been to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage alongside my husband. However,
the absence of essential civil documentation posed a significant obstacle to this endeavor.
Fortunately, under the guidance of Mr. Baryalai Azizi from the Afghan Women Skills
Development Center (AWSDC), my husband was enlightened about the process of acquiring
civil documents. Subsequently, adhering to the prescribed procedure, my husband diligently
pursued obtaining the necessary paperwork. As a result, I, along with my three sisters-in-law,
have successfully obtained paper Tazkiras, facilitated through the invaluable assistance of
AWSDC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The acquisition
of these documents has brought a sense of security and belonging to our family.
Furthermore, we have initiated the process of acquiring electronic Tazkiras and birth certificates
for our children, marking a significant step towards securing their future.
We extend our profound gratitude to UNHCR for their financial support, which alleviated the
burden of document-related expenses. Their assistance, amounting to 1500 Afghanis per
document, has been instrumental in facilitating our access to essential documentation. Without
this support, the procurement of our paper Tazkiras and the subsequent application for electronic
Tazkiras and birth certificates would have been considerably challenging.
We express our heartfelt appreciation to AWSDC and UNHCR for their unwavering assistance
in facilitating the acquisition of our paper Tazkiras. It is our earnest hope to obtain electronic
Tazkiras as well, thereby realizing the opportunity to fulfill my long-cherished dream of
undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage.
Once again, on behalf of my family, I extend our sincerest gratitude to UNHCR and AWSDC for
their indispensable support throughout this process.
Warm regards,
Gul Sika