Women rebuilding history in Afghanistan

TMP – 11/05/2017

The ruins of Darulaman Palace, built in the 1920s by King Amanullah Khan, is an iconic sight in Kabul. Devastated by decades of war, a major Afghan-led reconstruction project was launched in May 2016 to restore the palace to its former glory.

The reconstruction of the historic site is being implemented by a team Afghan engineers. For the first time, the team also includes women, with 27 female engineers hard at work on the restoration process.

“On one hand, working at this palace boosts our self-confidence and on the other, it’s a good example for other women too,” said Masooma Dilijan, an engineering graduate who has been working on the project for the last year.

“It’s been the best experience of my life to work on such a historic site,” she continued. “All the facilities we need have been taken into consideration; for example, our working atmosphere, our security, the proper behavior of male workers towards their female colleagues and more.”

Another female engineer, Wazhma Khoram, said: “I am so happy to work in this project. The role of women in this project may seem merely symbolic to people, but it’s not true. In fact, women are playing a vital role in the reconstruction of this historic palace.”

According to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, there are currently 1,047 engineers working on ten urban development projects across in Afghanistan. Of these, 105 engineers are women, engaged mostly in engineering, architecture and management.

“The number of female engineers now working in the field has increased compared to past years,” Nelofar Langar, a ministry spokeswoman, said, explaining that the women working at the Darulaman Palace mostly focus on design rather than implementation.

Much of Afghanistan’s infrastructure needs to be rebuilt and restored. Langar stressed that this process can only be sustainable if women are given the opportunity to play an active role in development projects.

“There are no restrictions and limitations for women in construction and they are appointed according to their expertise and experience, not according to their gender,” Langar said.