“When women show power that each one of us can make a difference, together we make change,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, at the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) 2015 Madeleine K. Albright luncheon earlier today.

The annual luncheon, hosted by NDI Chairman and former Secretary of State Albright, honors the efforts of grassroots women’s organizations to promote the participation and leadership of women in politics. Senator Mikulski and Afghanistan First Lady Rula Ghani headlined the event.

At the luncheon, NDI awarded its 2015 Albright Grant to the Worker Women Social Organization (WWSO), a grassroots group based in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Mikulski, one of the strongest advocates in Congress for the advancement of women and girls, talked about the importance of getting women involved in politics.

“Growing up in my ethnic neighborhood in Baltimore I never dreamed of becoming a U.S. Senator. But like so many of the women in the Senate today, I started at the grass roots,” said Mikulski.  “All of our greatest accomplishments, from women’s health and human rights, to better education and better pay, have one thing in common - women with the courage to speak up.”

“As Madeleine Albright and the leaders of NDI know so well, when we share our stories, whether in Congress or Kandahar, we inspire women everywhere to fight for opportunity. Every culture responds to a passionate message. Every community can be changed. But first, it takes the power of the one to organize the many.”

Ghani, a long standing champion for human rights, spoke about the growing role women now have in the reshaping of Afghanistan.

"Afghan women are among the strongest women I have ever had the privilege to know,” said Ghani. “They live under very difficult circumstances.  Yet, with very limited means, these women are striving to make a better life for themselves and their families.  They are the glue that keeps society together, they are the conscience that goads the leaders onto the right path.  They are hardworking, persistent, resourceful, and they are tough. If they need support and help it is not because they are weak or clueless but because they are strong and will put every little bit of support to good use."

Founded in 2010, WWSO works to empower young Afghan women – high school and college students and recent graduates -- to be leaders. Through after-school programs and training sessions, WWSO emphasizes democratic principles and helps the women build leadership skills as they push for improvements and promote sustainable peace in the Kandahar region.

“WWSO is a remarkable group that works at the grassroots level in difficult, even life-threatening, circumstances to ensure women and youth receive critical social services and can participate meaningfully in their local communities,” Albright said.

The grant, which was first awarded in 2005, stipulates that organizations receiving the prize must address systemic and structural barriers to women’s advancement and presence in the public and political spheres. In addition, organizations should demonstrate the desire and mission to advance the civic participation of women and girls in politics.

The Albright Grant is made possible through the generosity of the Melvin and Bren Simon Foundation and the Win with Women Global Initiative, which promotes women’s political leadership worldwide.

WWSO plans to use the $25,000 grant to build a core group of young women in Kandahar to join the next generation of Afghan political leaders.

Winners of the Albright Grant are selected from a competitive pool of applicants. Past recipients include Aswat Nisaa (Women’s Voices) of Tunisia, the Network of Support for Women Municipal Leaders (REAMM) of Mexico, the Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan, the Departmental Network of Chocó Women of Colombia, the Women’s League of Burma, the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone, the Mostar Women’s Citizen Initiative of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Women’s Political Caucus of Indonesia.