One road completed and work on another started in Kandahar province

Kandahar, Afghanistan

Afghan media has reported that a 3 kilometer road was inaugurated in Kandahar city earlier this week.  The road was built in the Khwajak Baba area of the 4th district. The 11 million afghanis (approx. $240,000) of funding for the project was provided by the Public Welfare Department.

Also, in the Dand district of southern Kandahar province, work on the construction of a 2.5 kilometer road has started. The cost of the project is estimated to be $500,000 and it will take 3 months to complete.  Once completed, the new road will connect the district to the Deh Bagh and Roohabad areas of Kandahar province.

As more modern roads are constructed, transportation becomes easier, commerce will increase, the Afghan economy will further improve, and in the end, the quality of life in Afghanistan will get better.

September 2, 2010   Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development  No Comments

Seminars started help Afghan educators improve

A 3 month seminar that will train teachers on how to improve their teaching skills began today in Afghanistan’s central province of Ghazni, according to a press released issued by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education. 300 teachers are participating in the training which is being held in the Alee Shamsularifeen High School.  These teachers teach science, geography, Dari, Pashto, and physics from grades 4 to12. The seminar is being held to help improve the way these Afghan teachers deliver the material to their students, thus making them much more effective educators. The seminar is able to happen thanks to financial support from the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team, and their cooperation with Afghan education ministry officials.

Another seminar also started today in Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Takhar, according to the same ministry press release. This seminar is a 5 day seminar where school principals are getting together and analyzing how to improve the level of education in schools. They will discuss how to support teachers and how to train them to that they can be much more effective in their job.  This seminar is being funded by the German government.

It’s not only important that teachers know their subject matter, they must also be able to communicate their knowledge in a way that students can pick up the information easily and quickly. Seminars like these will help Afghan teachers obtain the necessary modern day skills they need to teach students in Afghanistan much more effectively.

September 1, 2010   Posted in: Education  No Comments

Buildings inaugurated for schools in Balkh, Herat, and Kabul

According to an education ministry press release issued today, a building for the Sheikh Mohammad Sidiq Shahab boys and girls high school in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif was inaugurated today by Afghan officials. Mazar-e-Sharif is located in Afghanistan’s northern province of Balkh. The building was built in one year by the Rafi’ Waleed Construction Company at a cost of $73,000.  The project was funded by UNICEF. The building has 8 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, and it is furnished with 240 tables and chairs.  It is equipped with the necessary items required for the students’ educational needs. 

Also on Wednesday, August 25th, a building was inaugurated for an elementary school in Hasan Dara, which is located in the Farza district of Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kabul.  The building was constructed in 6 months at a cost of $100,000. Funding for the project was provided by a charity dedicated to helping the children of Afghanistan. The building has 8 classrooms, 2 administrative rooms, and it is equipped with  the necessary items required for the students’ educational needs. 

Finally, on Tuesday, August 24th, a building was inaugurated for a boys and girls high school in Sara Parda, which is located in the Obah district of Afghanistan’s western province of Herat. The building was built in one year by the Naweed Bost Construction Company.  The project was paid for by the education ministry. The building has 16 classrooms, 8 administrative rooms, 10 rest rooms, and it is equipped with  the necessary items required for the students’ educational needs.

August 29, 2010   Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development  No Comments

Cricket camp for girls held in Afghanistan

In an effort to promote the sport of cricket amongst girls in Afghanistan, the famous Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of London, the Afghan Youth Cricket Support Organization (AYCSO), and the Afghan-Connection organization came together and held what is being reported as the first ever girl’s cricket camp in Afghanistan. The camp was held last week in the Karte Naw district of Kabul. Fifty girls participated in the camp – they were taught about the sport of cricket and how to improve their game.  Even Pakistani female cricket coach Salma Faiz came to the camp to teach what she knows to Afghanistan’s’ future female cricket players. AYCSO was founded by former national cricket team player, Raees Ahmadzai.  In fact, many national team members participate in similar camps. More camps for both girls and boys are scheduled to be held soon.

August 27, 2010   Posted in: Afghan Sports News, Women's Rights  No Comments

Even more Afghans will have access to mobile services

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology recently announced that they will implement a $10 million telecommunications project to bring mobile serves to 100 districts in Afghanistan. $100,000 will be spent on each district.  Afghan government sources say that about 250 districts in the country have telecommunications coverage, which is more than 80% of the population.  This project will help bring modern technology to even more people as areas without service will now have the access they need. Afghan ministry officials say the plan the is to have the project be implemented in 6 months.

August 27, 2010   Posted in: Reconstruction and Development  No Comments

Center Promotes Female Journalism in Afghanistan

A few months ago, the first Women’s Journalism Center was opened in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat.  The center’s objective are to train female journalists and to help them find jobs in the growing media industry in Afghanistan.  The center provides support and encouragement, and a place to learn and develop one’s journalism skills.

According to an article recently published by the Afghan Women’s Writing Project online magazine, the center is in the “process of setting up a website and intends to hold practical courses for women journalists as well as establish a radio and television station for women journalists in Herat.” 

The idea for the center evolved from a journalism program established in Herat University eight years ago. While the establishment of the class took the first step towards helping women to enter the field of journalism,  it didn’t lead to jobs for the women, because the support system was not there. The center is hoping to change that.

The director of the center is Fawzia Fakhri, a newscaster for Radio Sahar, an all-women radio station.

August 26, 2010   Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights  No Comments

School building for girl’s high school inaugurated

Jowzjan Province

According to a press release issued today by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education, a school building constructed for a girl’s high school in the district of Aqcha in Afghanistan’s northern province of Jowzjan was inaugurated today by Afghan officials.

The building was constructed on government land, and most of the funding was provided by a Swedish organization, with 10% coming from the people of the area. The total cost of the project, which took 8 months, was US $150,000.  The one story building has 8 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, and 10 restrooms.  It will meet the educational needs of many female students in the area.

August 23, 2010   Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights  No Comments

New School Building In Kunar Province

Kunar Province

Yesterday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education issued a press release that Afghan officials have opened a new school building for the Hashim Zamani Middle School in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar.  According to the release, funding for the project was provided by the United Nations at a cost of US $47,000, and it took 6 months for the construction to be completed.  The new school building has 8 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, 6 restrooms and other essentials needed for the day to day running of the school.  The new school will meet the educational needs of about 400 students.

August 22, 2010   Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development  No Comments

Afghan Players Nominated For Major Cricket Award

Mohammad Shahzad and Samiullah Shinwari

On October 6th of this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC), in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), will hold the prestigious 2010 LG ICC Awards ceremony in Bangalore, India. Awards will be given out in various different categories.  In the Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year category, two members of Afghanistan’s national cricket team have been nominated – Batsman Mohammad Shahzad and Middle-Order Batsman and Spin Bowler Samiullah Shinwari.  This is the first time that an Afghan cricket player has been nominated for an ICC award.

The other nominees are: Ashish Bagai (Canada), Richie Berrington (Scotland), Muddassar Bukhari (Scotland), Tom Cooper (Netherlands), Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands), Trent Johnston (Ireland), Kevin O’Brien (Ireland),and Paul Stirling (Ireland).

The nominations were made by a five-man ICC selection panel.  It was chaired by former West Indies captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, Clive Lloyd.  The winner of the award will be selected by a group of 25 cricket personalities (former players, members of the media, and representatives of the elite panels of ICC umpires and referees) from around the world.

August 20, 2010   Posted in: Afghan Sports News  No Comments

New high school building inaugurated in Logar Province

Atiqullah Ludin, Governor of Logar Province

Afghan officials, led by provincial governor, Atiqullah Ludin, inaugurated a new high school building in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Logar earlier this week. The school is named after President Hamid Karzai. It has 16 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, 2 libraries, 2 storage rooms, a teachers room, 10 restrooms and a surrounding wall. The high school which is spread over half an acre of land is attended by about 1400 students. Funding for the project was provided by the Czech government at a cost of US $278,000.  Construction took 10 months.

August 19, 2010   Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development  No Comments

Women’s Farm Service Center Opened in Kabul

Afghan Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, Mohammad Asif Rahimi

Today, a Farm Service Center tailored specifically for Afghan women farmers was officially opened for business in Kabul. There are already 6 other Farm Service Centers in Afghanistan – all funded by the United States government. This particular one was setup to specifically meet the needs of Afghan women farmers.

According to a press release issued by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the “Farm Service Centers offer high quality products such as seed, fertilizer, animal feed, tools, machinery, and greenhouse supplies. In addition, the store functions as an outlet for other female head of household enterprises, such as jams, pickles, honey, and handicrafts”.  The press release added that this new Farm Service Center will benefit “more than 10,000 Afghan women”. Also, according to the press release,  “the seven Farm Service Centers in Afghanistan have created more than 235 jobs, trained more than 15,000 people, and achieved $24 million in sales from March 2008 to June 2010″.

“Farm Service Centers build value chains that are of enormous importance to participating famers and their families. From ensuring know-how and quality inputs, to strengthening co-operatives, to building links with businesses and markets, an FSC is a valuable resource that makes farmers and farm communities more prosperous,” Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, Mohammad Asif Rahimi said.

August 16, 2010   Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights  No Comments

Huge oil deposit discovered; Gas pipeline to bring in billions in revenue

The Afghan government has officially announced that it has discovered a field with an estimated 1.8 billion barrels of oil in northern Afghanistan, Afghan and Western media is reporting today. The discovery is specifically between the provinces of Balkh and Jowzjan. The survey was conducted by Afghan and international geologists.

Also yesterday, Afghanistan’s Tolo news reported that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Industries have said that an agreement to extend a gas pipeline from Central Asia to South Asia through Afghanistan will soon be signed. According to the report, once the 1680km pipeline has been built and the project formally completed, it will bring in $3 billion in tax revenue annually, as well as create job opportunities for thousands of Afghans. It will be a great boost for the Afghan economy.

Afghanistan is rich in natural resources, and if tapped, managed, and secured properly, it can turn the Afghan economy around and improve the lives of the Afghan people tremendously.

August 15, 2010   Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Job Creation  No Comments