Afghan Women Advancement & Rural Development Organization (AWARD)

About AWARD

Afghan Women Advancement & Rural Development Organization (AWARD)—formerly known as Badghis Social Journalists Association (BSJA)—is a national non-governmental organization working to promote democracy, social justice, and inclusive development across Afghanistan.

The organization was originally founded in 2007 by a group of journalists and social activists in the southern part of Badghis Province and was formally registered in 2010 with the Ministry of Justice. In 2023, it officially changed its name from BSJA to AWARD to reflect its expanded national scope and broader mandate, which now includes community development, humanitarian response, youth engagement, and rural advancement.

Vision and Mission

AWARD envisions a democratic and inclusive Afghanistan where women, youth, and marginalized communities actively participate in social development, governance, and decision-making. Its mission is to fight poverty, strengthen democracy, and build resilient rural communities through rights-based advocacy, capacity building, and community-driven initiatives.

Key Areas

AWARD’s programs cover a wide range of thematic areas and respond to both urgent humanitarian needs and long-term development priorities. Core areas include:

• Community Development: Promoting inclusive participation of local communities in decision-making and rural development planning.
• Human Rights and Access to Justice: Advocating for the protection of civilians, women’s, and children’s rights through awareness campaigns, policy reforms, and legal referral support.
• Youth Engagement: Training youth in leadership, peacebuilding, and civic participation.
• Women’s Rights and Empowerment: Supporting economic opportunities, gender equality, and women’s participation in social and political processes.
• Education and Child Protection: Facilitating access to education, preventing child labor and early marriages, and implementing child-friendly protection mechanisms.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Providing emergency relief, food, and essential non-food items to families affected by crises and disasters.
• Agriculture and Food Security: Supporting rural livelihoods through agricultural inputs, training, and market access initiatives.

Partnership with Rebuild Aid (Denmark)

Rebuild Aid has partnered with AWARD for the donation and distribution of medical, educational, and disability support equipment sent from Denmark under the GLOBUS Fund (formerly Reuse for the South) program.

Through this partnership:

• Essential hospital equipment, such as hospital beds, medical instruments, and diagnostic devices, was delivered to health facilities in Badghis Province, improving local healthcare services.
• School furniture and teaching materials were distributed to rural schools, enabling hundreds of children to study in better-equipped classrooms.
• Assistive devices for persons with disabilities—including wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility aids—were made available to individuals and rehabilitation centers, facilitating access to education and daily participation.

This collaboration strengthened AWARD’s local capacity to reach poor and marginalized communities with tangible resources that improve their living conditions and institutional infrastructure.

Impact and Community Engagement

Together, Rebuild Aid and AWARD have improved access to quality education, healthcare, and social services in one of Afghanistan’s most underdeveloped regions. Beyond equipment donations, the partnership has also built bridges between Danish civil society and Afghan grassroots initiatives, fostering cross-cultural solidarity and locally led development.

AWARD’s grassroots network of journalists, community leaders, women’s groups, and youth activists ensures that aid reaches those who need it most and that local community voices are represented in broader development dialogues.

Future Collaboration

Rebuild Aid and AWARD share a common commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in remote areas of Afghanistan. Both organizations aim to continue their collaboration in future initiatives focusing on:

• Expanding educational support to rural schools;
• Strengthening rural health infrastructure;
• Improving livelihoods for women and youth through business and income-generating activities;
• Promoting access to justice, raising awareness of human rights, and community-based peacebuilding.

This partnership demonstrates how international collaboration between Danish and Afghan civil society can directly improve lives in rural provinces—building resilience, equality, and empowerment from the ground up.