Educating Afghans in Peace and Human Rights

Let’s put our hands together, let’s get together.

Our hands hold our votes and our votes hold our future.

My fellow citizen It’s my vote, it’s your vote

It’s a privilege for enduring peace

My dear fellow citizen, with our vote leadership is in our hands.

             On April 5^th, an historic election was held in Afghanistan. Over 7 million voters participated, and the elections were generally a peaceful affair. We at AIL hosted election workshops leading up to the vote, and asked the managers of our Learning Centers to educate students at the centers about why the vote was important, what steps they needed to take in order to vote, how to research and select candidates, and how to vote.

            The effort to encourage Afghans to vote was not limited to our workshops and Learning Centers however. At a private school owned by Dr. Sakena Yacoobi (our CEO) the Arts and Culture Teacher, Mehrjui, set a poem she had written about the election to music. The song encourages all Afghans to become aware of their responsibilities, to select a good candidate for President and to vote. The PSYPS Arts and Culture students sang this song at a celebration on International Women’s Day as well as at our election workshops. The song was incredibly well received, moving many in the audience.

            The students, staff, and administration at the school quickly realized how powerful their song was, so with the help of the AIL Academic Advisor and the AIL video production team, they set about recording their song so that it could be shared with a wider audience. They had no idea how popular the song was about to become.

            The song quickly went viral, being aired on Afghanistan’s National TV station, as well as on eleven other stations. The song has been played many times over and candidates running for president even asked if they could buy the song to use in their campaign. The PSYPS students and staff declined to sell the song, deciding the purpose of the song was to encourage all Afghans to participate in the elections, not to support just one candidate.

             As Afghanistan moves closer to a runoff election this summer, the song continues to be played on the radio and the video over the airwaves. In short, the song continues to encourage Afghans to participate in the upcoming elections and to make sure their voices are heard.

             We encourage you to take a moment to view the video made by the students, to read the lyrics below and to see the hope in these young people’s faces. After watching, we hope that you will stand with the youth of Afghanistan, and join us as we work with them to create a peaceful future for their nation. 

(Chorus Song)

Let’s put our hands together, let’s get together.

Our hands hold our votes and our votes hold our future.

With one vote, we can be our sultan, our voice

For a better choice for a better leader

My fellow citizen It’s my vote, it’s your vote

It’s a privilege for enduring peace

My dear fellow citizen, with our vote leadership is in our hand

My fellow citizen, stride, my fellow citizen!

With the name of God, we speak from the power of our thoughts

From our decision, unity, humanity and right

No longer speak of suicide bombing, explosion, but of creativity and pride

Don’t speak of the hills under the thorn

Speak of the friendship of verdant soil and the rose garden

Speak of spring, spring and spring

(Narration)

Let’s hope that this spring Afghanistan will turn into a magnificent garden. A garden in which the smell of every rose invites the world for a spectacle.

Let’s hope for a different spring, for a different year and for a different Afghanistan

Don’t forget my fellow citizen, our rendezvous is in front of ballot boxes on April 5, 2014

(Chorus Song)

Our choice is the remedy

Our choice is for the day of rendezvous

Who we want will be crowned sultan

My fellow citizen, stride, my fellow citizen!

Attend the opportunity with passion and turn the enemies into wretches

This colored finger is the guiding path and this fist is the hummer for the oppressor

My fellow citizen, stride, my fellow citizen!

Links:

• Watch the Music Video Made by the Students!!

Dear Friends, 

 During 2013, your generous support allowed the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL)  staff to develop workshops  focused on teaching young Afghans about peace, human rights and democracy.

 It is estimated that over 60% of the population of Afghanistan is under the age of 25. Given this, the AIL staff is focusing on teaching these young Afghans, particularly young women, about peace, human rights and how democracy impacts their lives. Many of these students have known nothing but war for the whole of their lives, and these workshops open the student’s eyes to the possibility of a different future for their country. 

 "Peace brings happiness, prosperity, security and stability to community where people live. Peace is the base of a prosperous life by which a country reaches joy and luxury"

15-year-old workshop attendee

 As hard as it can be for those who have always lived in a democratic nation to understand, many Afghans are struggling to see why democracy matters to them. They do not think that voting has an impact, and they do not think that they can do anything to help Afghanistan move towards peace. AIL’s workshops are helping the young people to see that they have the power to make a different, by taking both small and large actions. 

Before coming to this workshop I did not know much about democracy. I always thought democracy was for foreigners and developed countries. I didn’t think we could have democracy in Afghanistan, but this workshop changed my mind. We can have democracy here too. I also learned the benefits of having democracy in the community. I thank AIL for giving me the chance to understand what democracy means.

During 2013 your support helped AIL to offer workshops in peace, human rights, and democracy for over 1,000 Afghans, the majority of whom were Afghan youth. Thank you for your support and for seeing the difference this project can make!!