Farah 2

[Wendy Thurman]

We hire as many Afghan Nationals as we can, and try very hard to hire Farahis. Unlike Kabul, Farah is very poor and lacking in infrastructure, employment opportunities, and educational institutions. The writ of the Government does not extend to this area; girls' schools are often closed due to threats from jihadis, an intelligence official was assassinated a couple of weeks ago, the army and the police have been known to shoot at each other, and poppy farming- with its associated mayhem- is rampant.

Apologies for the soft focus in the last image- it was shot through bulletproof glass from a moving vehicle.

With all the challenges Afghanistan faces- and they are huge problems that will take years to ameliorate- it's a stunning place populated by the warmest and most hospitable people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

Over the rooftops of Farah and past the citadel walls, a mountain sunset:

 

[Michael Fontana]

Hi Wendy

could you state please in which context you're in Afghanistan?
I think I will understand much better your photos, then.

 

[Wendy Thurman]

I work for a contractor executing a USAID (United States Agency for International Development) program that is designed to improve farming methods and value-chain (get the crops to market) management in Farah, Nimroz, Uruzgan, and Helmand provinces. We hope to have a positive impact on poppy reduction as well.

I've been working on various USAID initiatives in Afghanistan and Iraq for the last three years. I live here

Wendy