Agricultural Yields Helping Improve Afghan Life

With war tearing through the nation, most of Afghanistan is left in a poor state. The common man has lost a lot – from mental peace to financial stability. But now with the government slowly but steadily stabilizing, the people of Afghanistan are slowly getting back to normal life. Balkh Province in the northern parts of the country is a very fertile place and is also sometimes called the break basket of Afghanistan. The farmers here are looking to increase the yields to earn more in an attempt to improve their lifestyles.

With the help of USAID, the farmers now have motorized farm aides which are definitely helping them in their job. The farmers are being educated about the importance and helpfulness of these tractors and other aids. Because manual farming takes a lot more time and effort, the farmers are fast turning to the tractors and other available machinery. Apart from the motorized vehicles, USAID is also working closely with the farmers to provide them with the best quality seeds and fertilizers which further help in improving the quality and the quantity of the agricultural produce.

With a little help, the farmers of the Balkh Province are benefitting immensely. Not only have they improved the methods of farming, they have also improved the ways of their own lives. The farmers, apart from saving time and energy, are also able to reap better quality agricultural produce that help them earn more money and give them the passport to a better life.

Check our WebTV for more.

Women’s Liberation in Mainland Afghanistan

Afghanistan was once a progressive independent country where women were treated equally. And this was just about 100 years ago. Sadly in a century, a lot has changed and the women have had to bear the harshest brunt. With unfair laws against them and unequal social norms, women have long suffered in the Taliban dominated government. It is only recently that some of the women from the older generation have come out in support of the younger girls who have been subjected to social ills such as child marriage and suppression.

Suraya Pakzad, a veteran women’s right activist, has been fighting to give the deprived young women another chance to live a normal and safe life. She has been running a shelter for women who were forced into early marriage. It is heartening to know that a number of such shelters are functional in Afghanistan today. However for the women running these, the journey hasn’t been easy. Suraya is constantly threatened by the Taliban and other Islamic activists who even threat to personally harm her and her family. But she remains unfazed by it all and continues in her mission to help the women in need. Suraya however has been making pleas to the leaders of the world to put pressure on the Afghan government to set up a ministry exclusively for the rights of women.

The work being done by Suraya Pakzad and others like her is exemplary. The women who were once tortured and thrown into an uncertain future now have a fresh lease of life. They live in a safe environment and even have to liberty to play basketball with their peers. This not only gives them the freedom and respect they deserve, it also helps them in building up their lost confidence.

Check our WebTV for more.

Training Facility for the Afghan Army Officers

With the dawn of a new era and a more controlled governance, the people of Afghanistan are slowly but surely beginning to put their faith back on the army, something that was quite amiss during the Taliban regime. As a result, the army is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its members are well trained in every aspect. The Command and Staff College in Kabul has been established keeping this very motive in mind.
The Command and Staff College offers courses for army personnel to groom themselves and learn better ways to conduct their duties, both on the battlefield and among civilians. The classes are held by senior army officers who pass on their own experiences and knowledge to the junior officers. The seniors get to learn from a group of French soldiers who have been given the responsibility to mentor the Afghan commanders. Turkish and Canadian army personnel are often seen sharing their experiences at the college too.

One of the biggest challenges for the Afghan army has been involving the ethnic tribes in their ranks. Some tribes, like the Pashtuns have generally distanced themselves from the army and joined the Taliban instead. To tackle this issue, the commanders of the army are now travelling to India to see how the Indian army manages to recruit soldiers from all over the country where different languages are spoken and different religions and cultures are followed.

This is a very good initiative and the Afghan army is gaining immensely from it. Ever since its inception 8 years ago, the Command and Staff College has produced some very well trained and confident army officers.

Check our WebTV for more.

Wrestling with a Twist

With the Olympic games just ‘round the corner, the Afghan Olympic committee is doing everything it can to train and send the maximum number of athletes to the games. While many athletes have already qualified, the wrestling team is yet to make the mark. And with the qualifiers still on, the athletes and administrators are hopeful of securing a berth in the wrestling category at the 2012 London games.

Taking a look at the Afghan national wrestling team practicing for the games can leave you perplexed as you will soon observe their ways of wrestling are quite unconventional. There however is a reason behind this. The team practices the Zorkhaneh type of wrestling where the wrestlers dance and move to the beats of a drum. This is an ancient form of wrestling and is very popular in countries like Afghanistan and Turkey.it has been practiced in Afghanistan for many decades. In fact this was the only sport that the Taliban allowed and so it gained in popularity even more.

In the past, the Zorkhaneh form of wrestling was practiced to train warriors before they went to war. However now the war, if it can be called so, is on a different scale and the athletes would like to fight their hearts out for an Olympic berth. According to the wrestlers themselves, it is their dream to win a medal at the games and make their country proud. And on this path to victory, they are using the techniques of Zorkhaneh to help them through.

Check our WebTV for more.

Victory Lap

Winning or losing is not important. What is important is to take part. This is perhaps the motto that the Afghan Olympic committee has for its athletes, encouraging them to participate and bring recognition to their country. However for sprinter Massoud Azizi, this is not enough. It is his dream to win a medal at the London games and have the Afghan flag flying high and this is what has motivated him to work hard and become the country’s top ranked athlete.

Azizi comes from a family of sportspersons. Having seen his older brothers participate in athletic events, Azizi always wanted to become an athlete too and gradually trained to become a runner. He has been in the sport for a long time, having previously represented his country in the Athens and Beijing Olympic games as well. However, this time he feels more charged up and prepared as he has been able to practice harder, thanks to the facilities provided to him. In the past the athletes were always in fear of being attacked and they didn’t feel safe even inside stadiums. But now with the active intervention of the Olympic committee, the security has been beefed up and this has given Azizi and his colleagues a great sense of relief, which in turn has had a positive effect on their training.

With ample help and encouragement, Massoud Azizi is all set to make his country proud at the London games. He is practicing very hard and hopes to win a medal. He doesn’t want the glory for himself as he believes the medal will be a prize for the entire country which has in the recent past seen a lot of suffering and gone through hard times.

Check our WebTV for more.

Bringing Education to the Children of Afghanistan

Ever since its inception in 1989, the Baghnazargah School in Herat has worked to bring education to the lives of thousands of Afghan children. The school is located 5 kilometers away from Herat and caters to the needs of children of all ages. The school currently has close to 3700 students, 1700 of which are girls. A very heartening fact indeed, given that women have long been suppressed and deprived of education and other rights in this country.

The school is large and spacious and has facilities for studies and recreation. The children, outside their classrooms, play in the large basketball court and run around in the campus that also houses a football ground. There is a sense of joy and belonging among the students and it clearly shows that they enjoy coming to school. The teachers are qualified and teach in an interactive manner, making the lessons enjoyable for the children. There are 47 lady teachers and 50 male teachers. The classes are held separately for the boys and the girls, in keeping with their cultural traditions. The school has, in the past received help from UNICEF and now Film Annex has provided the school with internet classrooms.

For a country that has seen violence and tremendous amounts of social injustice, having a school that produces future leaders is important. And seeing the children receive education, there is no doubt that Afghanistan will soon see some very able and educated leaders, thanks to schools such as the Baghnazargah School in Herat.


Check our WebTV for more..