Afghan Woman Wins Asia Social Entrepreneur Of The Year Award
Sakena Yacoobi, Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning
Today at the World Economic Forum’s annual Summer Davos meeting, three businesspeople were awarded the Asia “Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award”. One of the winners was Afghanistan’s own Sakena Yacoobi. She was presented the award by Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
Ms. Yacoobi was recognized as a leading social innovator in Asia because she had founded the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). AIL was founded in 1995. During this time, the Taliban movement was bringing many parts of the country under their control, and implementing barbaric rules such as prohibiting women from working and denying them the right to an education.
A press release issued by the Schwab Foundation, states that, “AIL provides health and education services to Afghan women and children so that, amid decades of war and civil strife, they can rebuild their identities, lives, society and, ultimately, their country. In addition to operating rural health clinics, AIL provides primary and secondary education, university classes, as well as teacher training and human rights workshops – altogether benefiting more than 3.5 million people to date.”
“With Asia driving much of today’s economic progress, it is even more important that people are not left behind in the development process. Social entrepreneurship plays a key role in ensuring inclusive growth,” said Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
“Social entrepreneurs have an important lesson to share in today’s economic climate”, says the press release. “They emphasize long-term sustainability instead of short-term gain. Their primary focus is to maximize benefits for society and the environment through innovative and effective business models. Their approach to entrepreneurship is one of sustainable economic growth across sectors and industries, from renewable energy and education to waste management, health and rural development.”
The event was held in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.
For more on AIL, check out: http://www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org/
September 14, 2010
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8 Comments
Posted in: Education, Human Rights, Women's Rights
8 Responses
Heil Sakena Yacoobi 🙂
Glad to have some great news here.
Thanks GAN(GoodAfghanNews)
Thanks to Sakena, I am a friend of Anna Hacker who has been able to make possible another school, AWEC, in Kabul. I am a “friend of AWEC”. Any thing we can do to support Afghanistan is important to me, especially if it makes the lives of women and children better.
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I am happy to hear this news. I have been supporting another organisation in Afghanistan called HAWCA, its director Ms. Orzala came and visited Spain back in 1999, although she was very young, but highly dedicated and a strong woman. HAWCA was running education for girls under the Taliban, I think all these organisation lead by women deserve a high recognition. We at this part, are so proud of the strength of Afghani women!!
Thanks man good work Nice
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