Commitment for Change

In Dasht-e-Barchi, children face a shortage of safe spaces to learn and grow, alongside significant environmental challenges. Water waste, plastic pollution, and poor waste management put pressure on the community's health and future, while limited access to environmental education leaves children without the tools to respond. Little Hands, Big Impact was designed to close this gap  pairing a safe, engaging learning space with practical climate skills.

Little Hands, Big Impact is a youth-led initiative empowering 100 children in Dasht-e-Barchi, Kabul, to become young climate champions. In a community facing scarce safe learning spaces and pressing environmental challenges — water waste, plastic pollution, and poor waste management the project creates a safe, engaging space where children learn practical climate solutions and take an active role in protecting their environment.

The project is youth-led at every stage: young people are consulted in its design, lead its implementation, and take part in its decision-making, fostering genuine empowerment and ownership.

• Interactive climate education workshops introducing children to climate change and sustainable living.

• Hands-on water conservation workshops teaching practical, everyday water-saving techniques.

• Plastic recycling and reuse training, turning waste materials into useful household items.

• Community clean-up events where children practice waste segregation and management.

• Distribution of stationery kits to support children's continued education.

• Community awareness campaigns engaging parents and local leaders in sustainable practices.

The project directly reaches 100 children with limited access to education and environmental awareness, and engages at least 300 additional community members  including parents and local leaders  through awareness campaigns. It supports under-represented groups including children living in poverty and communities affected by climate change.

• 100 children equipped with practical climate action skills.

• Reduced environmental pollution through improved waste management and water-saving practices.

• Increased climate awareness and sustainable behaviors among at least 300 community members.

• A new generation of empowered youth acting as environmental leaders in their community.

A dedicated GWO team leads the project's day-to-day implementation, including overall project management, operations and logistics coordination, and specialist trainers delivering the water conservation, recycling and waste management, and climate action workshops.

The project contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action), alongside Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 15 (Life on Land).

Following the 31 August 2025 earthquake, GWO partnered with UNDP to bring sustainable solar electricity to 15 affected communities in Nurgal and Chawkay Districts, Kunar Province. The project installed 10 kW solar power systems to support community kitchens, households, and essential community services.

All planned activities were completed within the reporting period: procurement, installation and commissioning of all 15 solar stations, comprehensive operator and community training, and community safeguarding (PSEAH) awareness sessions. Community Energy Committees (CECs) and trained local operators are now in place to ensure long-term functionality and community ownership.

• Rapid deployment of qualified staff and coordination with national, provincial, and district government authorities, including a formal MoU with ANDMA.

• Community mobilization and consultation across all 15 target communities, including beneficiary identification and formation of Community Energy Committees (CECs).

• Technical site assessments, procurement, and installation, wiring, testing, and commissioning of all 15 solar power stations.

• Hands-on training for local operators and community members on solar system use, safety, and maintenance.

• Community safeguarding (PSEAH) awareness sessions covering safe electricity usage and grievance redress mechanisms.

• Reliable, clean electricity now supports households, community kitchens, and essential services across 15 communities.

• Local Community Energy Committees and trained operators ensure long-term system ownership and maintenance.

• Safeguarding awareness sessions reached 400 community members, promoting safe and equitable access for women, men, and vulnerable groups.

• Strong coordination with government authorities and community leaders strengthened local ownership and trust.

Throughout implementation, GWO maintained close coordination with UNDP, the Ministry of Economy, ANDMA, provincial and district authorities, and community elders and committees. Regular consultation meetings, signed MoUs, and community-led committees ensured transparency, alignment with national standards, and strong local ownership of the project.

With implementation complete, GWO has begun a one-year maintenance and support phase (April 2026 – March 2027), including quarterly maintenance visits, on-call technical support, refresher training for local operators, and ongoing performance monitoring — ensuring these communities continue to benefit from reliable solar energy for years to come.

The Women's Economic Empowerment through Home-Based Skills project was designed to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable women in Farah Province by creating sustainable income-generating opportunities through home-based food processing enterprises. Implemented by Green Way Organization (GWO) with financial support from UN Women, the project focused on strengthening women's economic resilience by equipping them with practical skills, production equipment, and entrepreneurship knowledge.

Many women in Afghanistan face significant barriers to employment due to limited educational opportunities, cultural restrictions, and economic hardship. This project addressed these challenges by enabling women to establish small businesses from their homes, allowing them to contribute to household income while working in a safe and culturally appropriate environment.

• Improve the economic resilience of vulnerable women.

• Develop practical skills in food processing and preservation.

• Promote women's entrepreneurship through home-based businesses.

• Increase household income and financial independence.

• Strengthen women's confidence and participation in local economic activities.

• Community mobilization and transparent beneficiary selection.

• Baseline assessment to identify participant needs and existing capacities.

• Training on the production of pomegranate paste, tomato paste, and pickles.

• Basic business and financial management training.

• Distribution of complete production kits for home-based businesses.

• Ongoing technical mentoring and follow-up support.

• Market linkage planning and business guidance.

Despite significant administrative delays that reduced the implementation period, the project successfully completed all planned foundational activities.

• 25 women successfully completed food processing and entrepreneurship training.

• 26 production kits were procured and distributed.

• All beneficiaries established home-based production activities following project completion.

• Women gained practical knowledge on food safety, hygiene, product quality, packaging, and business management.

• Continued post-project mentoring has enabled beneficiaries to strengthen their production capacity and prepare for local market access.

The project has laid the foundation for long-term economic empowerment by providing women with the knowledge, equipment, and confidence needed to operate sustainable home-based enterprises. Beyond income generation, the initiative contributes to:

• Improved household resilience.

• Increased self-confidence among women.

• Enhanced food processing skills.

• Greater community participation.

• Sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families.

Green Way Organization continues to provide voluntary technical support and mentoring to beneficiaries to ensure long-term sustainability and successful business development.

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