This morning I woke up with the sound of helicopters hovering just above our heads. It made me think of the opening to the TV program, M.A.S.H. – but without the background music. Indeed, there is a constant buzz of insecurity fluttering in the psyche of people in Kabul.
Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) have played an important humanitarian role in Afghanistan - and yes, helping people to forget about overhead helicopters is part of it too. By November 2003 there were more than 1,600 NGO’s registered with the Government of Afghanistan and the number has been steadily growing. Their mandates range from producing jobs to overseeing production; from building bridges to restoring buildings; and from exposing smiles on concealed faces to resealing wounds from exploding land mines.
In recent discussion with colleagues and friends, I have been introduced to a couple of NGO’s, both of which have a book describing a story about Afghanistan:
Turquoise Mountain Foundation: Led by CEO, Rory Stewart Turquoise Mountain specializes in urban regeneration, business development, and education in traditional arts and architecture. They seek to provide jobs, skills, and a renewed sense of national pride to Afghan men and women. Book: Places in Between by Rory Stewart at Amazon.ca
Kabul Beauty School: Created by Deborah Rodriguez, born and raised in Holland, Michigan, the school provides a haven for women to share their stories, heal, strengthen and carry on. Her book describes what it takes to launch and run an NGO in a war torn country. Book: Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez at Amazon.ca
Photos taken in Kabul in 2008
Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) have played an important humanitarian role in Afghanistan - and yes, helping people to forget about overhead helicopters is part of it too. By November 2003 there were more than 1,600 NGO’s registered with the Government of Afghanistan and the number has been steadily growing. Their mandates range from producing jobs to overseeing production; from building bridges to restoring buildings; and from exposing smiles on concealed faces to resealing wounds from exploding land mines.
In recent discussion with colleagues and friends, I have been introduced to a couple of NGO’s, both of which have a book describing a story about Afghanistan:
Turquoise Mountain Foundation: Led by CEO, Rory Stewart Turquoise Mountain specializes in urban regeneration, business development, and education in traditional arts and architecture. They seek to provide jobs, skills, and a renewed sense of national pride to Afghan men and women. Book: Places in Between by Rory Stewart at Amazon.ca
Kabul Beauty School: Created by Deborah Rodriguez, born and raised in Holland, Michigan, the school provides a haven for women to share their stories, heal, strengthen and carry on. Her book describes what it takes to launch and run an NGO in a war torn country. Book: Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez at Amazon.ca
Photos taken in Kabul in 2008
2 comments:
Thanks for posting. Have a nice day.
I hope you will return to this site to read other entries. I post weekly - usually on Mondays.
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