Advocating on Behalf of Afghan Women & Children
In June '09 Heather Metcalfe, Founder/Executive Director of Artfully Unforgotten traveled to Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Heather interviewed and photographed men, women and children from all backgrounds. The film footage, photographs and stories gathered during Heather's stay will be used in the creation of the short film & coffee table book titled "Voices of Afghanistan". The book and film focus on the strength, beauty and accomplishments of the women of Afghanistan, as well as their struggles. in today's media Afghan women are presented merely as 'victims.' What Heather found is that the women do not see themselves as victims and in addition, they are determined to rebuild Afghanistan.
VOICES OF AFGHANISTAN - The Film
Director & Co-Producer: Heather Metcalfe
Associate Producer & Editor: Kirsten Larvick
VOICES OF AFGHANISTAN - The Book
By Heather Metcalfe
Concept Editor: Danielle Savin
Book Design: Julia Blaukopf
Editor: Anne Toomey
The AFGHANISTAN Exhibit:
VOICES OF AFGHANISTAN, December 2009, (sponsored by Best Buy and presented in partnership with the students and professors of Parsons The New School for Design)
Through this exhibit Artfully Unforgotten has raised funds for the Business Council for Peace and the Mashale Noor School.
Click on thumbnails to see images from the Voices of Afghanistan exhibit.
Business Council for Peace (Bpeace)
Bpeace supports women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. I first met the team of Bpeace in October '07 when I volunteered with the organization. They are incredible and support women entrepreneurs in areas such as marketing, strategic planning and customer service.
In Afghanistan, I was able to meet with two of their associates, Mobina and Ferishta. Mobina is the first female radio broadcaster in Mazar-e Sharif, while Ferishta began a soccer ball manufacturing company. Mobina is an inspiration to all the women who hear her on the radio and Ferishta is a blessing to the men and women who have been trained by her and are able to make a living by making soccer balls.
Visit Bpeace at www.bpeace.org to learn more and support this amazing organization.
Mashale Noor School
The Mashale Noor school has 70 students from pre-school through grade two. The majority of the student body are Afghan. Some of the students are able to pay in full, while others receive scholarships.
During my time there, I was able to meet with the Founders and the Afghan principal and teachers. They are an amazing group of people and make every effort to ensure that the kids receive a great education. They provide transportation, take the kids on field trips (see picture at far right of the children discovering artifacts in Balkh province) and provide well rounded lessons.
As described by the Founder of the school, “We believe that we are working with future leaders and we seek to train them in character lessons and expose them to different world views to prepare them for their future roles… We believe that training the younger generation is one of the best ways to fight against the powers that choked this wonderful country not so long ago."
Contact Cameron & Brian Germann, Founders of Mashale Noor, at bandc@eroam.net to learn how you can help.
Advocating on Behalf of the Orthopedic Workshop & Physiotherapy Center
The Orthopedic Workshop & Physiotherapy Center is a clinic in Maimana, Afghanistan that serves individuals with physical disabilities. The clinic is staffed with a wide array of caring Afghans led by the International Assistance Mission (IAM). The staff build prosthetics for people who have had amputations due to a variety of reasons including polio and war. Physical therapists work with patients in rebuilding their strength and help them return to their lives. A teacher is also on staff to teach children diagnosed with cerebral palsy two times a week. Lastly, the staff at IAM have organized a wheelchair basketball team that provides the players not only with a fun sport, but presents disabled individuals in a positive light within the community.
Upon Heather's return to the States she identified Jess Markt, a professional wheelchair basketball player, to go coach the team. Together, Artfully Unforgotten and Jess Markt raised the necessary funds for a successful wheelchair basketball clinic at the Orthopedic Workshop Physiotherapy Center in November '09.
Artfully Unforgotten also produced a video for the IAM's website in order to highlight the Orthopedic Workshop & Physiotherapy Center. Filmed & Co-Produced by Heather Metcalfe. Directed and Edited by Kirsten Larvick. ext.
