Under Taliban rule, Afghan women have had their rights stripped away and their movements restricted. Speaking openly about peace, justice or women's rights is not just difficult - it can be dangerous. And yet, across provinces, twenty grandmothers are doing exactly that.

Supported by our local partner in Afghanistan, two Grandmother Groups have been quietly and courageously building peace. Ten grandmothers in each group meet regularly to share experiences, support women in need, and create a space where the struggles that often go unseen can be named and addressed.

Grandmothers occupy a particular place in Afghan society. Their age commands respect. Their presence raises fewer alarms. And it is this - the credibility they have earned simply by knowing their communities deeply - that makes them so effective. When a woman is in a crisis, these grandmothers are there to help; offering educated support or referring her to mental health services.

The grandmothers have also taken their place at local mediation platforms alongside community elders, women and young people. Offering an alternative to formal justice systems that many women cannot access or do not trust.

None of this is easy. Our partner operates under severe constraints, navigating logistical and security challenges that would deter many organisations. But they have created something resilient: safe spaces that continue to function, networks of women's protection that grow stronger with each meeting, and channels for resolving conflict that communities genuinely believe in.