Sarpanah: Community for Widows and Orphans
Sarpanah: a safe home
Village of Peace tackles poverty through Sarpanah, a safe community in the mountains of Afghanistan for single mothers, orphans, and vulnerable women. Here, we offer shelter, education, and care, while mothers receive training in trauma recovery, hygiene, nutrition, and sustainable gardening. With a focus on local, sustainable solutions rather than foreign aid, Village of Peace creates lasting change and a better future for women, children, and their wider community.
A home for widows and orphans
Sarpanah’s target group consists of single mothers, children without parents, and vulnerable women and children in Afghanistan. This group lives in extreme poverty, often living on less than one dollar a day. The mothers and children are taken in by a safe community where they become part of a larger “family” system.
The vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition
The Sarpanah project breaks the cycle of poverty for single mothers, orphans and vulnerable women in Afghanistan. It provides shelter, education and training in self-reliance, nutrition and hygiene. By tackling poverty, malnutrition and aid dependency with local, sustainable solutions, Sarpanah strives for a lasting impact and a more independent future for women and children.
Future prospects for the most vulnerable groups
Tackling this issue is crucial because it saves lives and creates a hopeful perspective on their future for some of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable groups: single mothers, orphans and vulnerable women. Breaking the cycle of poverty gives these women and children access to food, education and healthcare, significantly improving their quality of life. Investing in their self-reliance reduces dependency on emergency aid, boosts economic growth and promotes gender equality. It also contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as ending hunger, promoting health and well-being, and stimulating decent work and economic growth. Empowering women creates a multiplier effect, as they pass on their knowledge to others, contributing to a broader network of local, sustainable change.
A place to learn
In addition to attending school in the village, Sarpanah is also a home for learning.
Together ‘at the table’
Meals are shared and are a moment of rest and connection.
Health is a priority
At Sarpanah, it is important that every child can grow healthy in every area of their life.
Mariam describes her time at Sarpanah in moving words:
“After my husband died, I felt lost. My children and I had nothing. I didn’t know how to move on,” Mariam says. “One day, I heard about a community for widows and orphans. I was cautious at first, but what I found there changed my life. Thanks to this community, I feel stronger and can take care of my children again. We are stronger together, and that makes life more bearable.”
OUR APPROACH
Since 2014, Village of Peace has been training Afghans to rebuild their country. Our approach is holistic. Naturally, we provide food, medical care, and shelter where necessary, but the focus is on education, information, growing food, and finding a job. Our goal: a healthy and independent life for all single women and their children.
Scientifically based impact assessment
To ensure that our training courses and projects are adapted as effectively as possible to the local situation and target group, we work closely with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and SEEDS Afghanistan. Using scientific research, they measure the effectiveness and impact of our programs and provide advice on possible improvements. This is how we work together to achieve a sustainable impact on food security and quality of life in Afghanistan.
Why Village of Peace?
This project in Afghanistan promotes long-term food security, health and economic stability, and aligns with international sustainable development goals. As a donor, you can make a direct impact with your support in Afghan lives and help break the cycle of poverty and malnutrition in one of the world’s most challenging regions.
“Give hope and help build a future where vulnerable Afghans can work towards self-reliance.”
From malnutrition to self-reliance
In Afghanistan, widows and orphans are at the bottom of society. It is a daily struggle for them to find food, resulting in malnutrition. We help these women to change their situation. Often, this means providing emergency aid first.
We then train them through practical education and help them build a food-secure existence.
This enables them to work on their self-reliance and regain their place in Afghan society. Food security is the springboard to a healthy and independent life, not only for the widow and her children, but also for her immediate network. In this way, she ultimately makes a difference locally.
