Afghanistan

Glencree has already made several trips to Afghanistan and developed some key relationships and peacebuilding work.  We have been working with the Afghan Women Skills and Development Centre (AWSDC) a local NGO that offers refuge to women under threat of violence.  One of AWSDC’s employees is currently serving as a long-term volunteer in Glencree’s Serve and Learn Volunteer Programme supported by the Noble-Tyrell Fund.  Glencree also sent a volunteer from Galway, a member of the Travelling Community, to support the work of Mary Akrami at the AWSDC, which was a self-funded initiative.

During meetings with educationalists in Kabul, a new piece of programme work has been developed.  A need was identified for Peace Education as part of the core curriculum of third level education.  We responded to this need by working with teachers to develop a Peace Education module, translating the materials into the local language and training teachers to deliver the lessons.  This initiative is significant because it not only introduces new educational material that is very relevant to the student’s everyday lives, but it also introduces new, more interactive and learner centred, teaching methods to third level teachers.  Glencree will continue to provide support to teachers and other educationalists in Kabul who have embarked on this long-term learning process.

On a political level, Glencree is facilitating a visit by elected representatives in Northern Ireland to Afghanistan following requests from officials in Kabul.  The purpose of the visit is to share experience and lessons learnt in Track 1 dialogue, the peacebuilding process, and how to move an electorate from violent conflict to democratic dialogue.  We have already lined up MLAs from several political parties to take part in such a trip.