“Every woman has the power to change her life for the better”: EJAAD Berlin Publishes 2026 Midterm Report

The Berlin chapter of EJAAD, an Afghan women empowerment project aiming for social change for Afghan women and girls impacted by cultural and societal changes, released a 2026 Midterm Report detailing the organization’s efforts from the past academic semester, including fundraising, workshops, community events, and more. 

EJAAD Afghanistan, the core of the non-profit organization, was initially founded in 2017. In 2024, Tanishka Murthy ‘27 expanded the organization, which was already active in the United States and Japan, to Berlin, Germany. Since then, the project has continued to grow under the management of a team of students from Bard College Berlin.

“The name itself speaks to our core belief: in Dari, the national language of Afghanistan, “Ejaad” means creativity and innovation, and it is precisely through these qualities that we believe lasting change is possible,” the team writes. 

EJAAD emerged as a grassroots initiative built by a small group of people across the globe with the desire to “provide economic and educational opportunities for Afghan women and girls, while celebrating and preserving the traditional embroidered craft that reflects Afghanistan’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.” It has since grown into an international network active in four countries, connecting volunteers, students and supporters “working together around the world to make a tangible difference in the lives of Afghan women and their families.”

The core belief of the organization holds that each and every woman has the power to change her life for the better. EJAAD works with a practical and powerful model of empowerment, providing women with the means to learn traditional embroidery and tailoring techniques. They work with 43 women artisans in Afghanistan, sharing and selling their craft internationally. EJAAD provides the artisans with a regular income, something many of them could not access previously, while also fostering a sense of independence and community. 

During the past semester, EJAAD continued its merchandise sales of traditional embroidered pieces, the core of its fundraising campaign. “These patterns represent more than carefully embroidered designs, they carry a story of survival, identity and resilience of Afghan women during the challenging times under the Taliban rule,” the team writes.

In order to secure additional funding, EJAAD established a grant writing team this semester with the goal of identifying and securing funding opportunities which can allow the organization to expand and sustain its work in support of Afghan women. Denissa Savin ‘29, a member of the grant writing team, appreciated her ability to contribute to the broader EJAAD mission: “Researching funding opportunities and working collaboratively with a dedicated team made me realize the importance of strategic thinking, clear communication, and collective effort in sustaining the work of organizations that are determined to bring change in the world.”

In addition to fundraising, EJAAD organized and participated in numerous events over the course of the semester. During the International Weeks Against Racism, EJAAD hosted a table at the Mit-Macht-Aktion and participated in the Race Against Racism with two participating teams. The organization also hosted a booth where participants could learn more about Afghan embroidery.

EJAAD also proudly supported the event “Photos and Stories / Strangers Everywhere,” organized by Madina Sarabi ‘29 and Omer Sarmast ‘26. At the event, Sarmast presented an “emotional series of photographs and written stories documenting the journeys of fellow Afghan students who had left Afghanistan in search of safety and a better future.” Sarabi contributed three original artworks which “explored the intersecting themes of womanhood, migration, and peace, subjects that are not abstract for her, but deeply personal and urgently political.”

“I want to express the immense gratitude I have for the EJAAD Berlin Team. When I began EJAAD Berlin in early 2024, I could not have imagined what it would grow into, and especially how many incredibly dedicated and talented individuals it would gather in the process…There is still a lot that can be done but I am certain that with the growing team we have, we will be able to do even more meaningful work for the empowerment of the women in Afghanistan,” Murthy writes.

Many more efforts made by EJAAD this semester can be found in their 2026 Midterm Report. The organisation has also published multiple reports since 2024; the 2024 Annual Report, the 2025 Midterm Report, and the 2025 Annual Report.

By: Hana Trenčanová '28

Post Date: 09-17-2026