For Sitara Magazine
By Khalida Sarwari
Did you know that over 30 percent of the population in Afghanistan is unable to read or write? Books are important in adding to knowledge and education, but they require time. For Afghan people whose average life expectancy is 43 years, time is as much of a luxury as clean water. Staggering statistics about the circumstances in Afghanistan are as ubiquitous as the destitution of its people. For the past five years, the Afghan Friends Network (AFN), a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, has taken these statistics to heart. In March, the organization commemorated five years of achievement in the field of education, literacy and cultural awareness at the St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco.
A gathering of prominent Afghan and American community members enjoyed catered Afghan food, a live and silent auction, dancing, and a DJ spinning catchy tunes by Valy and other popular musicians. The evening was spearheaded with brief speeches by Humaira Ghilzai, chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Dana King, an award-winning journalist and board member. Ghilzai spoke about finding the route to AFN through the sage advice given by her father, who encouraged her to search for a way to help her fellow people. AFN allowed her, she said, to reconnect with her culture, build friendships, connect with other Afghans and Americans, and help bring peace in Afghanistan.
Introducing herself as an “honorary Afghan,” King spoke compassionately about her involvement in Afghanistan and the media’s silence to the atrocities that take place there. “Afghanistan is not in the news as it should be,” King said. It’s hard to disagree with her. Four years ago, the news anchor went behind the scenes on a 10-day trip to the war-torn country to capture its hidden face in her paintings. Familiar with the despair of its people from both ends of the spectrum, King perceptively stated, “It’s real and deep for you.” To highlight the extreme poles of survival on this spectrum, King remarked, ‘We worry about the economy, they worry about living.”
The AFN modus operandi for the past five years has been to enable friendships, networks, and partnerships between individuals, organizations and cities in the United States and Afghanistan. Crediting the organization’s success to consistency, Ghilzai said that AFN would like to continue its focus on education while implementing new objectives. She stated that the organization hopes to move toward computer-based training and make a presence in high schools and universities to encourage young Afghans to become involved. “Anybody can make a difference,” Ghilzai said.
Those in attendance would likely echo this belief. Tamim Ansary, a writer and board member, praised the personal attention AFN devotes to its education programs. One such example is teachers who took along magnifying glasses to use in schools in Ghazni. “They’re doing good,” Ansary said.
Hawa Hokoki, host of World Music on Ariana Afghanistan TV, said making the trip from Irvine was well worth it. “I saw first hand that every penny goes to these programs which have a huge impact on women and education,” Hokoki said.
Gabbriella Yates, a consultant in international development who has also spent time in Afghanistan, claimed that it is up to Americans to support organizations like AFN. “The work they’re doing is important. Afghanistan has a lot to offer the world so we [need to] hear the Afghan voice,” Yates said.
