14 March 2011 - In Bamyan, in Afghanistan's rugged Central Highlands, the drive to promote women's rights has taken a new twist. This past week a dozen young women took part in a skiing outing to a nearby mountain. For all of the women, who in their regular lives work in offices or go to school or who are housewives, this was their first time on skis.

"Skiing was a new opportunity to express our individuality and freedom of movement and choice," said Naseeba Rahim, one of the participants.

Altogether 12 women joined the ski event, which was held at Khushkag Valley, about 12 kilometers outside the provincial capital of Bamyan. The lesson was organized through a collaboration between the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the UNAMA Human Rights Unit (HRU). The instruction was provided by Ferdinando ‘Nando’ Rollando, an Italian who started training Bamyanis to glide on their snowy slopes in January.

UNAMA and AKF hope that the initial ski lesson at Khushkag in celebration of International Women’s Day will be the beginning of a new sport for women in Bamyan whose tallest slopes remain snow-capped even in summer.