CHANGE HAS STARTED

CHANGE HAS STARTED

"I always wanted to be a part of the ANA (Afghan National Army) and am so proud to wear this uniform," said 25-year-old Meena Sharifi, one of the 29 women in the graduation ceremony at the army training centre on the outskirts of Kabul.


It's a brave and significant step.29 women passed out from Afghan National Army on Thursday- The first women to do so and has been recruited in finance and logistics in the Afghan Defence Ministry.These women has been trained under NATO forces.This massive structured programme was schedule for 20 weeks.

Rebekah Martinez and Jennifer Marcos are the among the cadre of US army reserve drill sergeants who has trained these women in the Afghan National Army who said that these  women wanted to get out there and work hard to prove that they can do it.EMPOWER WOMEN


This is really a great and important change for Afghanistan and it's people and has brought prestige and honour for the country.The country can be self dependent in near future.When American troops will leave Afghanistan by next mid year these women will play a vital role in regulating the defense arena.One of the main aim of NATO was to build credible army for Afghanistan and I believe the hardships is finally being paid off.This is also a proud moment for NATO because such programme has helped to bridge the gap between Afghans and foreign troops.


This is big change in the mind set of Afghan families as they sent these women for the training programme.Its really hard to convince Afghan families as most of the women are deprived of rights and are often dominated by male counterparts.This is a moment to celebrate for the country after a flawed and violence struck elections last weekend.This can be termed as a historic day as it embarks one of the biggest milestone.
The women chosen for the programme were graduates and literate.The people of Afghanistan should realize the importance of education of girls.Education will definitely will give them choice and a break through in various section of jobs.


Truly this is a victory not only for NATO but also for Afghanistan which is on the path of self creation.This benchmark will create dreams for many other women who wants to break barrier and see life through the eyes of freedom.


Its a new dawn for Afghan women.We can definitely say that change has started.....

TEARS OF FEAR

"I'm afraid that my son, my own son will become a refugee one day. Please, I don't want my son and your son to be a foreign citizen. I want him to grow up here ...I want him to serve his nation,"Hamid Karzai broke down while addressing UN on world literacy day.

The education system in Afghanistan is a disturbing one.In 1996 Taliban restricted the education  and were more confined to madrassas as the source for primary education.Girls were heavily restricted to education and boys were mostly given religious education.The situation in rural area was even more distracting.After the invasion of US in 2001 there has been a great improvement in the education spectrum by restoring education system.The literacy rate in Afghanistan has been changing in accordance to war.according to AUSaid literacy rate is 36.4% only among which  85% women approximately are illiterate

US helps in empowering education

With the help of international aid.Many project has been executed since the fall of 
Taliban.USAID Afghanistan is one the programmes which is run to flourish the education.another when if i can mention is BRAC programme.
However the education system is still restricted to the co-ed education.Over pass decades girls education has been empowered but at the same time co-ed education hasn't got the green flag so far.The restriction came on recommendation of Faisal Ahmad Shinwari,Former chief justice of Afghanistan.


There is excitement in the air for education but again the schools are the easy targets for the militants. since 2006, 1000 schools has been bombed,many teachers and children have died.Parents always fear sending their children and many are still enveloped in traditional thinking.Karzai when he was addressing UN on Tuesday, he cried out that his heart was in pain.Even though there has been deep corruption charges against him but the fact is the situation in his regime regarding education has improved.According  to Afghanistan Constitution (adapted in 2004)the education is the right to all citizen and to certain limit is free of charge.
                                                                                                                                                  

Destroyed School Class room In bombing

Inadequate class board

The current situation in Afghanistan is still disturbing where women rights are limited.the women in rural area is still restricted to participate in public life.there are other problems also such as improper school facilities ,lacks of books,cultural fence,destroyed class rooms,paucity of trainees but when we I see the Women getting recruited in Afghan National Army,my heart gets overwhelmed that at least change has started.Everyone should get the right to education so that they can become the face of their nation,they can do business.education is really important so that they can vote to build up  their nation.Destruction of schools is a major problem but efforts has to be taken in order to protect the significance   of education. 


I believe with the course of time things will considerably improve and Afghanistan with the help of ongoing programme and international aid and one day Afghanistan can celebrate the world literacy day with a proud delight.


Regards,
Nikhil

PARLEY-TODAY AND YESTERDAY

 PARLEY

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, in a statement released at midnight, called on Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas to "continue the sincere and good talks that have just begun, with the goal of reaching a historic peace agreement between our two peoples."

The peace seed has been sown once again and people are really hoping that this time the ice should break and a solution should come out.

Since my childhood I always use to see and hear about the Arab conflict through the pages of my history books and whenever I use to switch on National Geographic Channel or any other news channel I use to see the stories based on it.I started believing that Muslim countries are very violent.The Suez crisis 1956 ,The six day war 1967 and the Yom Kippur war 1967  and later the Gaza strip conflict.That frame was made up in my mind.But as time passed I realized that my beliefs about this issue were wrong and a very lame one.As I grew up I understood the angle of it and the way people were associated with it. I understood the problem the Palestinians were facing and the hardship Jews have seen.The fight for the homeland became my interest.But i sincerely hope that there should be a real breakthrough of the peace talks which is going now.

In the past also many peace talk has been initiated which has resulted in nothing but failure.My heart really miss a beat when there is an offensive attack on flotilla .I question god when I see a five year old child  scribbling his drawing book and making a picture of tanks and bombs and telling his mom that he wants to take revenge,he wants to become Saviour of his country through militancy.These things really disturbs and compel at least me to think why these people are not being given a chance to live in harmony.Perhaps the situation is far way complex than our thinking.

The battle between Palestinian Group Hamas and isreal soldiers has bulged out in the past decade and is not hidden in any locker.After 9 /11 ,the most prominent date or rather divide, after BC and AC,things for Arab Nations changed completely.Al Qaeda  was the term everybody use to talk about. I remember when I saw the news of  an American Journalist of Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl was killed in Pakistan, that was the first time I gave a deep thought on this matter .I was taken aback when the reason was unveiled that he was beheaded because he was a Jew.This nerve breaking incident incident contemplated  me to know about the heinous incident in depth..I started doing my  research in more comprehensive way. The cloud which were clustered in my mind got clear.Later the image of Gaza Strip and the UN aid programme became  so prominent that by then i have actually started sniffing about it

Truly ,even today when Palestine and Israel are talking on peace breakthrough i recall my past decade and I wonder so much has changed in the world but nothing has been change in a big way.

Enough is enough.Both countries have seen pain and suffering  ,there has to be concrete solution to make both side content and satisfied .the leaders are having parley i wish a concrete solution knocks the door.of this decades deadlock.