GVC 2012

Zhara, 26. “I am Morwarid’s daughter in law, she’s a beneficiary of GVC’s food security project. When I was 11 I married my cousin, we got married because we were in love. We have 6 children but we don’t have food and clothes: my husband can’t work full time because he’s got health problems. None of us went to school. The assistance given to Morwaid makes all of us stronger”. In the extended family system the help given to one gets the whole group. 2011
Fatema, 40. “In Afghanistan parents settle their daughters’ future. I am one of those daughters. My father forced me to marry and old man, who is now 90 and has become mad. I win some bread selling goat milk but now with the saffron our life will get better”. 2011
Kobra, 3, in the background her great aunt Nasima, who does not know her age. Zia Gul, Kobra’s mother, says: “I am very depressed. I have three children, my husband injured his hand and can’t work anymore, I am unemployed too. Kobra is a very quiet child and at least, thanks to GVC, she will be drinking safe water”. 2011
Maryam, 40. “I have been widow for twelve years now, my life was better when my husband was alive. I used to be a cleaner for the others but now I am happy: I sell goat milk and soon also the coming kids. I have already prepared the land to cultivate saffron and this too will give me some money”. 2011
Halim, 18. “I developed an intestinal infection when I was 2, it has been with me all my life and I could not grow. I like writing poems and reading, and I would like to become a doctor. Most of all I wish I could ride a motorbike, but I can’t due to my illness”. Giardia is one of the many parasites that nestle in unclean water. 2011
Nasrullah, 70. “I was a farmer. I had three sons and a daughter from my first wife. When I became a widower I married Gul Pari, we don’t have children. I don’t know why she can’t speak, but I can understand her and we can talk. I’m also very happy for the goats, the agricultural tools and the saffron”. 2011
Nadera, 70. “Russians killed two sons of mine, one was 18 and the other was 21, he just got married. I’m so sad for those children on mine. My husband died at the age of 110. I married my cousin when I was 9 or 10 and I remember nothing from the wedding day. I couldn’t care less about it”. 2011
Ebrahim, 9 and Ramin, 7. Ebrahim: “I am the son of one of the workers at the waterline works. Look: we are small boys but we work the land to plant melons. I wish I could ride a bike instead”. Ramin: “I have a happy life. Right now I don’t have money to buy pen and exercise books for the school, but when I grow up I will be a judge and protect poor people”. 2011
Arbab (Chief) Hafizullah, 80. “In the past we were so poor that we used to light the fire with stones, for we could not afford matches. Then the Russians came and killed four of my relatives. But I’m proud of my life: I was head of the village for forty years, I have thirty five grandchildren and at my age I’m still capable to help others. This is the water I have been drinking so far”. 2011
Gul Afrooz, does not know her age. “I became like this for my husband’s violence. One of my feet is warped due to a fracture which was not cured, I am not all there and my five children don’t accept me as their mother. These goats make me joyful”.  Mentally disabled persons have to face an acute marginalization as they suffer the social stigma, as well lacking of proper assistance. 2011
Zahra, 60. “I have been widow for eight years now, I don’t have children and live on my own. I got married when I was 10, my husband was 30. He was a decent man; we always went along well together. Till now my neighbours helped me with food and clothes. But now, with this help I will be able to make some money: soon I will sell the coming kids and the vegetables that grow in the green house”. 2011
Asia, 7. “I am engaged, but I don’t want to marry; I mean, not before having completed the school and learned more. I would like to become a teacher. I hope that when my fiancé grows up he  will be a good man. I am happy that soon we will have clean water in Malooma”. 2011
This shepherdess, who holds very tight the goats she received during last year’s distribution, is unknown to us. She lives in a Taliban infested village where NGOs’ presence is not welcomed. In Afghanistan security is decreasing. 2010
Gul Pari, 60, and her husband Nasrullah, 70. Gul Pari stopped talking one year ago, but she manages to make herself clear to her husband and through him she conveys her happiness: “I am very happy for the goats, the tools and the saffron I received. Soon the goats will produce kids and milk”. 2011

2012 GVC CALENDAR FOR AFGHANISTAN

 

Asia, 7, engaged but she does not want to get married and Gul Afrooz who does not know her age. Halim, Fatema, Maryam. Arbab Hafizullah, at the age of 80 he can eventually drink potable water; and a nameless girl who lives in a Taleban—infiltrated area, whose access is restricted to NGOs and Foreigners. Portraits and stories of some of the thousand people GVC aid workers help in Afghanistan, in Herat Province, through projects funded by Italian Cooperation.

GVC operates in the rural areas of Harirod River to support 300 women by introducing greenhouse cultivation of vegetables, firstlings and other high added—value products, as well as supporting medium size animal husbandry (each beneficiary woman receives 3 she—goats) for milk and meat production.
At the same time, in Karukh District, GVC brought potable water to two mountain villages, where well digging is not possible, through a water pipeline and a distribution system based on 11 public fountains serving 800 families. In the District lowlands GVC built two bypasses to protect an irrigation canal from being damaged by recurrent flood waves; the canal serves five villages, which now have water for irrigation all year round.
Nearly 3.000 families (an estimated 18.000 individuals) have benefited from GVC interventions in 2011; 37 communities use inputs and tools distributed through these project but, moreover, they are to utilize and maintain them also in the future.
For this is how GVC always operates: helping people to be in control of their lives.
Zhara the baker, Ebrahim and Ramin the little melon growers, Nasrullah the old farmer improved their lives through resources made available by the Italian Cooperation and thanks to the commitment of GVC and its supporters.
Nevertheless in such a fragile Country, their lives and those of other many thousand Afghanis are threatened by drought, harsh winter conditions, conflicts, and natural disasters. Therefore, GVC seeks the support of its followers to increase its capacity of rapid and independent intervention in case of emergency.