International Day of Families in Afghanistan

Michael Balcomb
May 17, 2009
UPF-Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan - Fifty social and political activists gathered at the Sitara Hotel in the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan to celebrate the International Day of Families.

Organized by the Universal Peace Federation-Afghanistan, Ambassadors for Peace and Youth Ambassadors for Peace joined together to report about their activities of service to the community and work to strengthen the families of Afghanistan.

One special aspect of the program was the inter-tribal activities that the ambassadors organized to promote unity among the warring tribes of Afghanistan. Over the last decade, the major tribes of the country -- Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Hazara -- have been waging a civil war that has destroyed the lives of thousands of families.

In order to heal the pain of the past, our Youth Ambassadors for Peace have determined to create service projects that promote inter-tribal unity. This has given a great sense of pride and accomplishment to the groups; also it demonstrates the power of unity to the rest of their communities.

Among the distinguished guests was the Deputy Minister of Culture for Media, Mr. M. Mubarez, former Director of Tourism, Mrs. Fauzia Assifi, and well-known social worker, Mrs. Fatana Gailani. The purpose of the meeting was to inspire each other by sharing the numerous projects of service that the Ambassadors for Peace and Youth Ambassadors for Peace have conducted in 2009. With the support of their networks, the peacemakers served their communities through tree planting, street cleaning, creating libraries, conducting peace seminars, and offering family training programs, just to name a few.

Previously in Afghanistan the International Day of Families has not been widely celebrated, and the participants were inspired to be involved in an event with such a noble purpose.