Afghans tell their stories of development progress
The following are photographs and extracts from the personal
accounts of Afghans whose lives have been improved with UK development
assistance. You can read their full stories, and the accounts of others who have
benefited, in the publication
Afghanistan: Development
in Action
(1.9
mb).
Rohgul Walidzada, Programme worker
‘People called me dollari and said I should be burned because I wanted a job outside the home.’ Since then Rohgul has gone on to be the social organiser for the Agha Khan Foundation and stood for Parliament against Professor Rabbani, the former President of Afghanistan.
Malalai, Editor and journalist
Malalai does not pass unnoticed in the streets of Kabul, dressed in blue jeans and a white embroidered scarf. She is a journalist with a mission – to give a voice to some of Kabul’s young people who face a difficult and uncertain future. ‘I can speak with people from all walks of life, about what they feel and think. It has made me strong, I know about people’s difficulties and problems and sometimes I can help solve them.’
Juma Khan, Veterinary worker
Juma Khan learned his veterinary skills at a four-week course organised under the Afghan Government’s National Solidarity Programme and now earns about 2,500 Afghanis (£26) per month from small charges to the farmers whose animals he treats. He reckons about three out of four farmers in his locality use his services. ‘I am an employed person. Everyone respects me now.’
Fazeleddin, Beekeeper
Fazeleddin has no regrets moving to beekeeping. He sells honey locally, and to traders who take it to Kabul. ‘My life has changed tremendously. I used to work on a farm, now I lease 25 jeribs (12 acres) of land and employ my own labourers.’
Mahmoud Khan, Teacher
After long years as a refugee in Iran and Pakistan, Mahmoud decided to teach. His salary of 2,000 Afghanis (£21) a month is not much, but it comes regularly and it helps with the household expenses. At first, the teaching methods were traditional. But then he attended two brief courses on child-centred learning. This transformed his classes. ‘Now the children learn from each other as well as me, and they learn better.’
Kubra, Tailoring teacher
‘If the NGOs didn’t help us we would die – I mean, now we have a clinic and when we get ill or a pregnant woman needs help when she goes into labour, we can get help. Before this wasn’t possible and a lot of people died because of their injuries or other sicknesses.’
