2019 WE Empower finalist Fakhria Ibrahimi Momtaz is the creator of the first yoga studio in Afghanistan to focus on the needs of women. Momtaz Yoga Studio provides services, including yoga therapy, meditation, and other wellness services, to improve the health and lifestyle of these women. The studio offers specialized classes unique to women’s needs, such as pregnancy, back and joint pain, anxiety, and depression.
Through providing meditation and yoga services in safe, outdoor spaces, Momtaz supports Goal 3 Good Health and Well-being. It promotes Goal 5 Gender Equality by offering programs that cater to Afghan women’s needs, including leadership programs, life skills development, and consultancy. Moreover, it provides classes that strengthen self-esteem, increase their inclusion in society, sharpen skills and productivity, and teach about women’s rights while building peace. The organization attains Goal 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by giving women access to safe spaces to practice meditation and achieve inner peace as well as societal peace.