My Turn: Farah

Farah, Suraya, Laila and Tuba.

Suraya and Saaghar.

Farah was born in Iran and was once imprisioned there during the war. She now lives in California, operating a successful translation business and she is so in love with Afghanistan, she would like to help the economy by starting a translation school in Kabul. This is her second Bpeace mission to Afghanistan.

"After the hardworking day of many meetings and sitting under spring shower of hail and thunderstorm we are all up in the reception area of the Park Hotel getting ready to leave for the evening. It is about 4:00 PM and Suraya seems a bit nervous but excited. She disappears and in seconds she is back with her daughter Tuba who is all drenched in water as she has walked under the heavy rain.

"Tuba is introduced to Toni who is about to leave and too tired to socialize and Toba is too shy to start any conversation. She is wearing a glamorous long black dress and a matching scarf embellished with dazzling colorful crystal stones, beads and filigree.

"Toni talks to her a little bit about her dress and jokes with her about the boyfriend she is hiding from her mother. Tuba is still shy and waiting to be translated, but nevertheless keeps her big smile while stealing her eyes from Toni.

"Framed in her black scarf, Tuba’s face is alluring with a pair of significant happy eyes. She seems more at ease talking with me, hoping that she would be translated back to English as she understands most of what Toni says in English.

"Another young girl named Saaghar arrives in the room. She introduces herself as the Deputy Director of the nonprofit organization she and Tuba just recently registered with the Department of Education. So, who is the director I ask myself and soon I learn that Tuba is the director as the license for their daycare center is flying in the air and at the end in Tuba’s hand.

"Suraya is still nervous but she also is encouraging, or rather pushing, the girls to talk about their business to Toni. Saaghar who seems to have more soft skills and self confidence starts speaking. She trembles like a little chick as she is trying to get over her dry mouth and deliver some of the words she has already rehearsed for this meeting. She tells us that they want to start a daycare center for the street children and they have already spent all their savings for the licensing and renting a place for their daycare. Their problem is now funding for the rest of their plans.

"They are too proud to ask for money directly but the load on their shoulder for continuing their program is too heavy to hide. They are breaking into tears as they explain how they see orphan children wandering in the streets of Kabul doing nothing.

"Toni is now well into the conversation and I am translating back and forth; sometimes not even enough time to finish one sentence when the other side has already started with her response. Every once in a while Suraya drops a sentence here and there trying to distract emotional statements by Saaghar and Tuba.

"Toni tells the girls that she has to close her eyes to the children in the streets when she is in Kabul. “I have to focus on the Bpeace work with our Associates to create sustainable businesses for women who could in turn help other women with no means of employment or supporting their families,” Toni declares as she is having a hard time hiding her tears.

"Tuba works in an international school and earns $200 a month. Saaghar works with Japanese Consulate and earns $400 a month. They feel privileged and they want to do something. They have planned to charge $40 for the admission plus $2 a month for tuition. “But people are so poor that they can’t even afford $2 a month let alone $40 for the admission” Saaghar expresses with tears in her eyes. “We have to do something otherwise these kids will grow up illiterate and no better than their parents.”

"You can see Toni doing the math in her head. $2/month. 30 students. Total of $60 income a month. $600 a month in expenses for rent, teachers and food. $540/loss every month. Just about the combined salaries Tuba and Saaghar earn at their teaching and office jobs.

"Toni listens to Saghar and Tuba with no interruption and tells them how much she admires their big heart; her advice, however, is not what the girls are hoping to hear. “You need to continue your jobs and you can set aside a percentage of your monthly income to hire one or two women who might be illiterate but kind and can each take care of 5 children in their homes.” Toni suggests. “This way you have created a job for two women and at the same time have not stopped your growth.”

“So, what about us? We want to be a part of the training and directly involved in it.” Saaghar and Tuba both reply with no seconds to lose.

"With her eyes covered in a big smile and two shiny eyes, Suraya interferes: “I could tell this was not a wise way of spending their money from the beginning but they are young girls and they have to experience, so I didn’t stop them. I know they have great hearts and they want to do something good about their country and their people but I wanted them to hear Toni’s opinion.”

"Toni repeats her suggestion trying to convince them that they don’t have to drop their career growth in order to help their people. She tells them how proud their parents are for what they are doing and how much more they still have in front of them to grow. She advises them that Afghanistan needs literate young people to work in all sectors. They can encourage and support other less educated women who are kind to take care of children. “They need a job too!” Toni says with a smile trying to cheer up the girls.

"It is time to leave and our drivers are ready to take us back to our hotel. Heavy silence from the girls is indicative of their bursting bubbles and broken hearts. Suraya suggests if they could join us in the car and we could drop them off by the bus station where they can catch a bus to get back home. In the car, Toni asks the girls if they wish to go to Dubai for their higher education. Their response is quick and with no doubt. They both express how much they would love to continue their education. Now everybody is talking in the car and hard to hear one conversation. The car stops in the middle of a heavy traffic street to drop off Suraya and the two girls. I look at Saghar and Tuba’s face and I can see the residue of a smile. Their eyes are shining as they are filled with the dreams and hope of going to Dubai and continuing their higher education.