Bpeace in Afghanistan: Last Day in Kabul

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Last Day in Kabul

At the end of the day, bikes, pedestrians and vehicles make their way home through clouds of dust and exhaust that looks like pea soup and feels like a sandstorm. Some parts of the city are worse than others, so on one side of a hill the air can be clear while the other can be as shown here.

Rahima (left) participates in the discussion at the Shura -- the Kabul Provincial Council, where she is an elected official.

In a chilly room heated by a wood-burning stove, Habibullah Maulavi, President of the Province of Kabul Council (in white turban) listens to fellow legislators discuss the day's agenda. In addition to being Council President he is a high level mullah, and graciously received Paula as Bpeace's representative.

Comments:

These pictures are absolutely stunning! I miss Afghanistan...Congrats on another great mission! I can't wait to hear all the details.

Love,
Masuda

# posted by

Anonymous : Sunday, December 18, 2005

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: Name: Who is Bpeace?

Bpeace (The Business Council for Peace) is a non-profit international network of business professionals who volunteer to help women entrepreneurs in countries emerging from war expand their businesses, create employment and build a more peaceful future for their communities. More jobs mean less violence.

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www.bpeace.org

Afghan Team Overview

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Women for Afghan Women

Who is on this Bpeace mission?
Kate Buggeln, retail industry executive serving on the boards of Dress Barn and Circles Inc.
Marla Gitterman, Bpeace Program Director.
Athena Katsaros, founder of IdeaTribe, a life and leadership coaching consulting firm.
Paula Lerner, award-winning professional photographer
Stephen Kulovits , healthcare industry executive with the Montefiore Medical Center.
Susan McPhearson, vice-president/strategic accounts at PR Newswire.

Who are the Afghan women Bpeace is working with?
There are 21 entrepreneurial Afghan women in Bpeace programs. We call them our Associates.
Seven are engaged in diversified businesses including freight forwarding, construction, media and HR services.
The rest are currently engaged in apparel and accessory production in Kabul, employing 12-300 women doing piece work in their homes and small workshops.

What is the purpose of this Bpeace mission to Kabul?
To accelerate progress with the women in our three-year mentoring program!
This mission will focus on three key activities:
1. One on one work sessions with each Associate to assess their business development progress, identify quick wins and develop actions plans to address problems and opportunities, working closely with US mentors to define next six months of work effort and focus
2. Business training with the Bpeace Associates and over 100 members of the Afghanistan Women's Business Federation and will include developing winning business plans, building a successful retail business, effective business marketing and developing a professional success map
3. Obtaining business funding and financing furthering our networks and relationships with potential donors for Bpeace projects and identfying and linking lenders for the women's emerging businesses

Who is paying for this Bpeace mission?
We are, out of our pockets. Bpeace members pay for their own travel on missions, thereby ensuring that donor funds raised go directly into programs for our women in the field.

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