Women for Afghan Women

Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a grassroots civil society organization providing comprehensive support services to Afghan women, girls, and families in Fresh Meadows, NY and throughout the United States and Afghanistan. Since its founding in 2001, WAW has grown into one of the largest organizations serving the needs of disenfranchised Afghan women through a network of community centers and specialized programs. The organization delivers a full spectrum of professional services including legal aid and immigration support, case management, gender-based violence intervention and prevention, job placement and employment training, housing assistance, emergency shelter, and citizenship instruction. WAW's Fresh Meadows-based New York Community Center operates as a culturally competent hub offering free services to vulnerable Afghan and Muslim immigrant women survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. The organization provides English language classes, financial literacy programs, youth leadership initiatives, and community education designed to empower women toward economic self-sufficiency and independence. WAW's professional staff, primarily women-led and drawn from Afghan, South Asian, and other Muslim immigrant communities, understands the unique challenges facing Afghan families navigating the U.S. system. All programs and services are provided at no cost to clients. Additionally, WAW operates humanitarian programs in Afghanistan, providing protection services, advocacy against gender-based violence, and support for vulnerable women-led households. The organization's commitment to challenging gender norms and advancing equality extends across all service areas, ensuring Afghan women and girls can exercise their rights to self-determination and full participation in political, social, cultural, and economic spheres of life.