{"id":111342,"date":"2022-03-08T19:03:27","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T00:03:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=111342"},"modified":"2022-03-08T19:04:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T00:04:10","slug":"women-girls-foundation-marks-international-womens-day-with-new-podcast-spotlighting-trailblazing-pakistani-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=111342","title":{"rendered":"Women & Girls Foundation marks International Women’s Day with new podcast spotlighting trailblazing Pakistani women"},"content":{"rendered":"

The nonprofit also is recognizing Women’s Herstory Month with 10 community grants<\/strong><\/p>\n

(March 8, 2022) \u2013 The\u00a0Women and Girls Foundation<\/strong>\u00a0(WGF) celebrates\u00a0International Women’s Day\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0launching its new podcast series\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0\u201cBlazing a Trail with Ifrah Faiz,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>featuring stories of pioneering Pakistani women. It also will announce throughout Women’s Herstory Month\u00a010 more community grant recipients\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 for a total of 20 this year \u2013 as part of WGF\u2019s 20th anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a joy and honor to highlight the work of these incredible community partners this month,\u201d said\u00a0Heather Arnet<\/strong>\u00a0,\u00a0WGF\u2019s CEO\u00a0<\/strong>. \u201cEach of them are doing bold beautiful work expanding the rights, opportunities, voices and visions of women, girls, femmes, trans and gender-nonconforming individuals throughout our region. During Women\u2019s Herstory Month, it is important to us at WGF not just to honor our history but to also plant seeds for the future. Each of these grantees and community partners is doing just that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Blazing a Trail\u2019 podcast with host Ifrah Faiz<\/strong><\/p>\n

Podcast host\u00a0Ifrah Faiz<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 originally from Peshawar, Pakistan \u2013 is the first female paratrooper from Pakistan’s General Duty Pilot branch. Her desire to work for women\u2019s empowerment led her to join the Pakistan Air Force. After serving for three years, Faiz left the Air Force to join the development sector. She led the United Nations’ women\u2019s project for the government and has worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in gender policymaking. She is currently an Immigrant and Refugee Administrator with Jewish Family and Community Services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guests are passionate women pioneers from Pakistan, who have contributed tremendously to [their field] and advocated for gender equality, women and minority rights,\u201d Faiz said.<\/p>\n

The podcast features notable women pioneers, such as the founder of the Women\u2019s Movement in Pakistan, the first female neurosurgeon from Pakistan, the founder of the country’s first anti-colorism campaign, the first transgender model in Pakistan and more. New episodes\u00a0can be streamed on WGF’s YouTube page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Community grant recipients<\/strong><\/p>\n

As part of its ongoing 20th anniversary celebration, WGF will promote 20 grantees and community partners throughout the current fiscal year, and lift up their work via an extra social media push as part of the anniversary celebration. Throughout Women\u2019s Herstory Month, WGF will highlight 10 grantees and community partners who are increasing and expanding the rights, opportunities, voices and visions of women, girls, femmes, trans and gender-nonconforming individuals throughout the region and the state.<\/p>\n

Another group of 10 grantees was honored in January in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\u00a0That group of grantees included BIPOC-led organizations and community partners, all working to protect and advance voting rights and improve civic engagement.<\/p>\n

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This month\u2019s partners include:<\/p>\n