Reconstruction and Public Diplomacy in Afghanistan- VOA PNN Show

Jamshid Chalangi with Mahtab Farid, VOA TV Set, Washington, DC

On September 11, 2011, Jamshid Chalangi, veteran journalsit hosted a special show on the Voice of America, Persian News Network (VOA PNN) about U.S. and NATO reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.  Since I served for over a year in Afghanistan, he asked me to speak about reconstruction and specifically about coalition forces in Afghanistan and how they relate to Afghans.  Here are the two links to the show.  The program is in Farsi.  I mentioned the names and showed the photos of a lot of my military colleagues that I served with.  There is also another guest who is an Afghan reporter and he gives his perspective on NATO efforts...

Show Part I- U.S. Reconstruction in Afghanistan...

Show Part II, Thanking our soldiers...

NATO can win the war in Afghanistan with Pubic Diplomacy

Arif Yaghoubi and his friends graduating from Kabul University- Dec. 2011

امروز، روزی قشنگی بود. رقص وشادمانی،خنده وشوخی،ضبظ لجظه های شیرین، فراموشی دلتنگی های بی سبب، جشن فراغت دانشگاه...زندگی گاهی چه قدر قشنگ ودوست داشتنی است...عجیب حسی دارم...

This is a Facebook post from a young Afghan, Arif Yaghoubi who just graduated from Kabul University and received his bachelor's degree in Persian and Dari Literature.   The translation to his post...

"Today was a beautiful day. Dancing, happiness, laughter and exchanging jokes, recording sweet memories, forgetting worries, and celebrating graduation from college... Life could some times be so beautiful and wonderful.  What a feeling!!!!

You will NEVER see such sentiments about Afghans in any of the major news networks or read it in the  international papers. You will only read or watch the road side bombing and how everything is falling into pieces in Afghanistan.  But in reality there is progress in Afghanistan and young Afghans are the future of their country.  Thanks to NATO forces for bringing security in kinetic places so Afghans could live a relatively safe and normal life.   To start, schools are open and although Taliban in some areas still try to close schools or bring fear to the Afghans but Afghan parents know the value of education and send their kids to school.  

Ten years ago, you would not have seen such Facebook post from young Afghans like Yaghoubi who graduated and started giving something back to his country.  If United States and NATO forces didn't support Afghanistan, there will not even be electricity let alone access to the Internet or access to social media such as Facebook.

Arif Yaghoubi

Yaghoubi is a 23- years- old local journalist in Ghazni province working for BBC radio.  Yaghoubi is just an example of many bright young Afghans that take whatever learning opportunity and turn it into gold.  He has gone through extensive BBC journalism training and started earning a professional salary even when he was at school.  Yaghoubi commuted to Kabul to attend the university and stayed with friends when he had classes few times a week while working in Ghazni.  Later on he was introduced to the Ghazni public diplomacy team and started some public diplomacy projects.   This impressive young man directed a U.S. Embassy public diplomacy photography project for exhibiting photos from various districts of Ghazni to teach the world about Ghazni 2013. (Ghazni is chosen to be the city of Islamic arts and culture in 2013)

Ghader Rahimi with Mrs. Ching Eikenberry in Ghazni

Ghader Rahimi, a gifted local photojournalist was part of Yaghoubi's team for the photography public diplomacy project.  Despite all the sad images in Afghanistan, Rahimi has a happy outlook for his images.  He captures mostly emotions and tries to communicate emotions and life in Afghanistan through his photos.

Mahdy Mehraeen

Another talented member of the team is Mahdy Mehraeen.  He is a professional photographer who not only captures the news with his photography but tells a story with his images.  The story of beauty, love, emotion, political oppression and the social situation as Afghanistan is going through war and reconstruction. 

When people talk about winning the war in Afghanistan, it is important to keep in mind that NATO forces and United States are not in Afghanistan to make Kabul the 51 State of the United States.  The presence of international community is to establish security, train Afghan armed forces and to help build capacity among Afghans especially young people.  This is just one example of how one public diplomacy project can bring many Afghans together and connect the Afghans to the members of their government.  It also gives Afghans a chance to display their talents to the international community.  A wish that every Afghan yearns. "To be a member of the international community."

Serving our country through public diplomacy

Mahtab Farid with Under Secretary Patrick Kennedy

I had the honor of receiving the State Department “Expeditionary Service Award” from Under Secretary Patrick Kennedy on behalf of Secretary Hillary R. Clinton on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011 in a beautiful ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC. The award reads,

“In grateful recognition for your committed service in extraordinary and arduous conditions during your field assignment in Afghanistan. In spite of constant danger and difficulty your contributions to reconstruction, stability, and peace reflect great credit on yourself and on the Department of State.” Signed by Secretary of State, Hillary R. Clinton, Washington, DC

Radio Dehkade News Team in Ghazni, Afghanistan

There is no greater honor than representing United States of America. I was fortunate to share the American values with Afghans and build a bridge through personal and public diplomacy. I owe my service to many of our military colleagues who kept me safe and protected me like an ambassador. I also like to thank my family and amazing friends who supported me with their love during my service in Afghanistan. My service wouldn't have been possible without the friendship and support of our Afghan friends.  There is no greater honor than serving our country through public diplomacy.

Here is the link to the story published in Farsi at Voice of America, Persian Service website: 
http://www.voanews.com/persian/news/civil-society/Award-Mahtab-Farid-2011-11-30-134784768.html

Public Diplomacy through the lens of a photographer

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

While the international community is worried about Iranian uranium enrichment program and United States is strengthening sanctions against Iran, an Iranian photographer act of public diplomacy shows a different side of Iran and what the Iranian people stand for.

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

Majid Saeedi, an Iranian photographer for Getty Images is an internationally recognized photojournalist who tells the story through the pictures. Saeedi recently won the prestigious Lucie Award in New York City but he couldn’t pick up his prize since his visa was not processed on time.  “I applied for my visa three months ago but the lengthy process due to the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries makes the process difficult.” Saeedi wrote to me in an email while he was capturing photos of Libyan people for a transition to democracy and the unrest on the streets of Libya.

In 2009, Saeedi was arrested during the Iranian presidential elections for transmitting images of protest on the streets of Tehran. He spent over a month in Evin Prison and was sentenced to three years in jail. He decided to escape Iran to the neighboring country of Afghanistan. Saeedi’s photos from the realities on the streets of Afghanistan say it all. He takes a special interest in capturing kids and revealing the pain they suffer.

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

Photo by:  Majid Saeedi

His photos tell the story of kids with addiction in Afghanistan, poverty on the streets, and Afghans losing body parts because of landmines, rockets, and air strikes.


When I asked Majid why is it that he only takes photos of sadness and despair, he said, “People around the world need to see the images of what is going on so they can pay attention and make a difference.” 

I learned about Majid's work when I was working on a number of public diplomacy projects in Afghanistan.  During one of my visits to Kabul, I met with Majid and told him about a much happier place, "Samar Orphange" in Bamyan and in Ghazni that is run by a dedicated Afghan woman, Dr. Sima Samar.   After meeting with Majid, I was inspired and decided to go back to the "Samar Orphanage" in Bamyan and teach kids how to take snap shots so they can document their lives.  With the help of a wonderful humanitarian lady from Canada, Pauline Tymchuk, we managed to send some digital cameras to the orphanage.

I am sharing some of the photos taken by the kids at the orphanage which paints a happier side of Afghanistan.  This video is dedicated to Majid and rest of the photographers who risk their lives every day to bring us the stories.

My interview with Senator John McCain

Mahtab Farid interviews Senator John McCain

The link to my interview with Senator John McCain, http://www.youtube.com/user/USPublicdiplomacy

"The most noble thing anyone can do is to serve a cause greater than themselves."  Senator John McCain

It is never easy getting an interview with senior and influential senators on the Hill when your audience is not in the U.S.  However, when I called Senator McCain's office and told them I served as a civilian with our military in Afghanistan, I got a response within fifteen minutes.  Despite his busy schedule, Senator McCain accommodated our crew and said, "you are always welcome in this office."

National Press Club home coming speech about media in Afghanistan

Mahtab Farid speaking at National Press Club

On September 21, 2011, my friends and colleagues at National Press Club hosted an event so I could share my reporter’s notebook from Afghanistan and the public diplomacy efforts during my 16 month tour with the State Department and the Department of Defense.



Media Workshop in Ghazni with Mahtab Farid and Afghan reporters

I served as a regional public diplomacy officer with the State Department in regional command east. I spent six months in Ghazni and the rest of my tour was in Bagram but I traveled to Parwan, Panshir, Bamyan, Laghman and Kabul to build capacity for Afghan media. My job was to tell the American story and to help Afghan reporters who had no electricity, computers, or access to the Internet to share their own story with the world.



Female reporters in Bamyan

Now that I am back, there are so many heartwarming stories to tell. I witnessed numerous examples of kindness and compassion from Afghans, soldiers, women and kids on the street. It was hard to tell all the stories and reflect all the images that I witnessed in one hour. But it was a wonderful feeling coming back to my press family at the National Press Club and featuring my work.



Myron Belkind and Mahtab Farid

I like to thank our International Correspondent Committee Chair Myron Belkind for his efforts and for presenting me with the National Press Club mug which only dignitary speakers receive when they speak at the club. I was also delighted to get a surprise visit from LTC Padilla who served with me in Ghazni and delighted to see Ken from our embassy while he was on a short break from Afghanistan. I remembered and praised our military colleagues and friends during the speech.  I also missed all our Afghan partners, Afghan reporters, Afghan women and children who made my tour meaningful and memorable. 
I will forever treasure the memories…

Presentation to American Female Soldiers on Media

Mahtab Farid, Public Diplomacy Officer training soldiers on media in Bagram

Female Engagement Teams or FET teams are now all across Afghanistan helping Afghan women.  There are various programs that include vocational training, poultry training, bee keeping, building capacity, media training, sporting events, and so many other programs depending upon the need of each province. 

On Feb 1, 2011, I was delighted to get an invitation to be a presenter at the Female Engagement Team training in Bagram.  The purpose of my presentation was to teach female soldiers how to deal with Afghan media.  During the class, we shared the best practices on how to tell the American story through the lens of the American female soldiers who are also mothers and sisters.  The soldiers also had a chance to conduct some mock interviews on how to best interact with Afghan media.

I told the American female soldiers , the Female Engagement Teams in Afghanistan conduct the great act of public diplomacy with Afghan women.

Delivering humanitarian aid in Bamyan, Afghanistan

It is freezing cold in Bamyan, and as I am getting ready for another day of

a journalism workshop for young women, my colleague tells me, "Mahtab, we are receiving humanitarian aid by Afghan Air force and we need your help for distribution."  I told her, "Of course, count me in." 

I called the local reporters and put on my warm clothes and started walking to the flight line.  As we were all waiting  in the cold weather, the Afghan Air force landed and I noticed American soldiers with New Zealand soldiers helping carry out the big boxes of aid to the flight line. 

The director of women affairs in Bamyan, Fatimeh Kazemi was the local official to receive the aid.  However, some of the back packs, warm clothes, and praying rugs were delivered to the local mosques, schools, and the local orphanage in Bamyan. 

It is has been a heart warming gift for me during Christmas to be able to witness the public diplomacy among Afghans and American and also be able to share the warm experience of giving in the cold winter. 

Links to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) story and Press Release about this event.

Humanitarian aid in Bamyan
ISAF Press Release

 



The photo on the left, local Afghan reporters, Ali Erfan, director of Radio Bamyan and Nasser Behzad, reporter from Kilid News Agency interviewing Afghan Col. Pasha.  The photo to the right, Col. Pasha talking to director of women affairs in Bamyan.  Col. Pasha was the pilot for the Afghan National Air Force humanitarian flight to Bamyan.

Christmas Card from Afghanistan...



Mahtab Farid, Kabul Embassy



From Afghanistan to all my friends around the world who celebrate Christmas...  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

I would like to thank everyone for their support during my stay in Afghanistan.  Your kind notes and support means a lot to me. 

I also like to thank Afghans for their love and hospitality during the past year. 



Samar Orphanage kids in Bamyan with Mahtab Farid



On Christmas, I am visiting the kids in "Samar Orphanage" in Bamyan province.  These kids are amazing. 

I like to thank these kids for their unconditional love. 

The term public diplomacy might sound fancy, but the concept is simple.  It is about building bridges between cultures, connecting hearts, and making relationships.

Afghan women in Bamyan learn to be entrepreneurs



Fatima Kazemian and Tayeba Khawari applying for business program

Afghan women continue to make progress in various fields.  As I am visiting Bamyan province for a number meetings and trainings I noticed my colleague, Mary Jae Abbitt Sushka coordinated a meeting for a wonderful program to bring economic independence for Afghan women.  Here is the story...

Two distinguished Afghan women in Bamyan, Fatima Kazemian, former Director of Women Affairs with Tayeba Khawari, manager of Youth Cultural for Civil Society NGO received applications and a briefing by Bamyan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) gender advisor, Mary Jae Abbit Sushka on a business training program at the American University in Kabul. 

This program is in partnership with Thunderbird School of Global Management in the U.S. funded by Goldman Sachs charitable fund for women in emerging economies.

The training includes entrepreneurship, marketing, management, accounting and strategic planning.  After the completion of the course women will have access to mentors, networking and opportunities for internship so they can contribute to the development of Afghan economy.