Afghan Women Social and Cultural Organization (AWSCO) was established in 1994 by Ms. Qazi Marzia Babakarkhail. Over the past two decades Afghanistan has suffered from numerous wars, resulting in a significant decline in the standard of living. Women, in particular, were deprived of their civil rights, especially the right to work and be educated. AWSCO's mission is to "contribute to the rehabilitation and development of Afghanistan through the planning, designing and undertaking of economic and humanitarian assistance programs, as well as by developing the skills and capacity of Afghan women." AWSCO has created numerous projects throughout central and northern Afghanistan as well as in Peshawar, Pakistan. The projects include handicraft/vocational training, education in computers and English, health awareness, emergency relief, human rights education, women development programs, housing construction, water supply, as well as women and social affairs projects. Currently, AWSCO is working with UNICEF on a water and sanitation project in Kabul, Afghanistan.