A letter from Naghmeh (the translator for our trip)

February 12, 2008

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 4:45 pm

Dear Catherine, Jesse, and Jiva,

Here is a letter I’ve been meaning to write for a long time. Some of these thoughts and phrases have been with me since Afghanistan. Others are offspring of hindsight; slowly forming in the womb of my soul as I took my time to fathom the true extends to which my experience with you has impacted on me. In essence, this letter is an attempt at acknowledging what each of you, in your uniqueness as a person, have meant to my experience. (more…)

Scary Honesty

November 10, 2007

Topic: Afghanistan — tembacatherine @ 10:51 pm

I would not want to paint Afghanistan to be any different than another place where the domination culture has suppressed women. So hear my words and understand this is speaking to one of the toughest conflicts we face…gender.

Standing at the outside gate being told our plane had left 2 hours before what we had been told was the scheduled time stimulated more than just an annoyance of miscommunication. As I stood surrounded by at least 50 men (including the two I am traveling with), completely aware I am the only woman in sight I felt my legs take root. I could not move when Jesse and Jiva and Said began to return to the car. And I was the only one to notice. (more…)

What does Peace-Building look like?

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 1:38 am

“If everyone here implements their projects, we will have peace in Afghanistan”
- participant in our 5-Day training (after our session on creating ‘needs-based’ projects)

“Anywhere there are people, I’d like them to use these methods”
- participant (on what he’d like other people to know about this training)

“My dream is to be of service to this society that has suffered from war for 3 decades”
- participant

“I managed to solve a problem my sister had with her husband by using the things I learned in the workshop”
- participant (when asked to share ‘one moment’ this week that was particularly exciting for her)

“What the trainers taught us was really useful; there’s a lot of need for this in Afghanistan… I’d like to start by using this in my own house and my own office”
- participant

“I think we can use this in everyday life and everyday situations and each one of those can become a project in itself”
- participant (when asked about what projects she was excited about)

“Before this training I had difficulty forgiving some things that had happened in my past. I feel that I am now able to forgive some people that I haven’t been able to forgive before because now I can understand their needs.”
- participant who was the head of the Department of Women’s Affairs, Afghanistan

Last Day of Training

November 9, 2007

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 2:18 am

Today we completed our training and the fullness I feel in my heart is hard to explain. I am already dreaming of returning to Afghanistan and what it possibly would be like to help implement a certification process in this region for NVC Trainers.

The funeral for the 6 parliament members who died during the bombing two days ago happened today here in Kabul. It blocked roads and a couple participants did not make it our Celebration Completion. One man traveled anyway to simply come to offer his good-by and gratitude to us. It has been these types of gestures of genuine connection that have deeply touched my being while here in this vast mountain range called Afghanistan. (more…)

What Is

November 7, 2007

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 12:48 pm

It is not unusual for me to weep for the deaths that occur in Afghanistan. But today I got to weep on Afghan soil with Afghan people.

We opened today’s training with one of the participants offering in song a verse from the Koran in honor of the 64 people who died in yesterday’s bombing. I was deeply moved by the heart and the connection. Tears streamed my face and as a group we shared the sorrow and fueled our passion to ignite creating a world we would rather live in. The day unfolded into a beautiful practice of Being Nonviolence. (more…)

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