1．Summary of the project’s impact

RSDO had implemented the 5-year projects for the comprehensive development of the villages in Herat and Ghor provinces, while receiving technical support as well as financial assistance of NICCO and Japan Platform (JPF).

The projects had successfully contributed for improvement on educational environment, women empowerment and increase of incomes of farmers, through school construction, teacher training, literacy class and training for farmers.

▲External appearance of the Ghyzan school

▲Female students

　2.Result of the project

Poor school facilities and the long distance from homes to the nearest formal school results in reduction to the enrollment of students to school in Herat and Ghor. In addition, before 2011, the first year of the project cited above, many children had been studying under tents and in the open air and under the sunshine and they were in the bad health conditions and suffering from some diseases. After the project of NICCO/RSDO for school construction, ten thousands of students have got access to the modern school facilities and they study inside very nice class. They are very happy and in good health condition.

And also, by running the literacy classes, more than two thousands of illiterate women become literate and take part in their community development. Further, their social statuses in their community were also improved.

In addition, through the improvement of the agricultural productivities of the farmers in the planting of saffron, kitchen gardening, wheat, fruit trees, grape processing, cotton and etc, thousands of farmers could enhance accessibility　to the certified seeds, agricultural toolkit and get cash incomes.

▲Saffron crocus

▲Saffron processing

　3.Lesson learned

This project provided us with good opportunities to learn in the matter of operation as well as management for humanitarian relief assistances. We learned how to negotiate with communities, build relation with government and local authorities and how to manage and motivate staff for effective implementation of the project.

We learned many things from our partner, NICCO through implementing the project, communicating by email and on the phone on a daily basis and reporting about the project progress. Furthermore, we learned from NICCO staff especially when we had the meetings with them, held in Mashhad and Dubai. We learned many things about the humanitarian relief assistance and the development support and we really keen to have further opportunities to learn more and more. 

▲Computer class

　4.Do not forget Afghanistan

I appreciate the government and people of Japan for their generous assistance to the people of Afghanistan especially in Herat and Ghor province. Your assistances have greatly contributed to the development of Afghanistan and have brought positive changes to the life of the people.

However, Afghanistan is still one of the least developed poorest countries in the world. Insecurity has continued to spread with devastating impact on civilians. There are still many villages that children studying under tents and in open air both in Herat and Ghor. We have targeted only few women to teach them literacy and there are thousands of women who still in need of literacy. Violence against women continues to be widespread throughout Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, unfortunately is forgotten from the focus of international community and the  Media attention is focused on violent conflicts in Syria and Iraq. Afghanistan is slowly recovering from the conflicts that have lasted for more than 3 decades. We sincerely hope that humanitarian assistance of the generous people of Japan continues and the people of Japan will be beside the poor people of Afghanistan in this critical condition.

▲Literacy class