In Afghanistan, male heads of household determine whether female family members can seek an education or pursue a career. According to the most recent Survey of the Afghan People, nearly 30 percent of Afghans do not believe women should be allowed to work outside the home. Kabir* disagrees. The father of seven daughters, he made sure all his children received a university education.

After graduating from Herat University in 2017, his daughter Kamila* began working as a volunteer professor. Without more education or work experience though, Kamila struggled to find a paid job. When she learned about the USAID Women in Government internship—a year-long training program that would give her project management, human resources, and computer skills—her father encouraged her to apply.

“My father is my life mentor,” Kamila said. “He gives me and my sisters the courage to dream and strive to be the best we can.”

She enrolled in the internship program and graduated a year later. USAID then supported Kamila to apply for and ultimately secure a position with the provincial Internal Revenue Office in Herat where she works as a bookkeeping manager. Kamila handles sensitive tasks, including funds allocation, recording payroll for the provincial government, and coordination with the central office in Kabul.

“My responsibilities are heavy, but thanks to my internship training, I am able to meet the demands of my job,” she said.

Kabir is proud of his daughter’s achievements. USAID honored him as an outstanding mentor and champion for women’s empowerment at a celebration of International Women’s Day in Herat in March 2019. Speaking at the event, Kabir said, “USAID’s internship training improved my daughter’s skills and self-confidence. She has become an inspiration to her sisters.”

USAID’s Women in Government project aims to train over 3,000 female interns for government careers and had helped 744 women secure employment as of March 2019.