Sunday in Kabul.
Good to know for future missions: you can fit 5 associates plus the driver in one tiny car.
Ray and Toni with the students of Dubai Women's College who are creating the Rangeen Kaman Artisans web site.Sunday was a crazy quilt day. We were off in different directions for the first time, Toni having loosened the security reins. Sure enough, Najib starts calling our mobiles at about 11. "There's been an explosion, stay where you are and don't go on the roads till I call you back." Turns out it was an old mine that went off in the city. No big deal. We hardly gave it any mind at all.
Farah was oblivious to the minor hub-bub--she was training the Associates on "How to make better fitting clothing." In her native Iran, Farah made her living as a seamstress. Today, of course, she operates a successful translation business in California and is trying to open a translation school here in Kabul. Back home thanks to Carol, Parinaz, Sonali, Karine and Emily for this module. We fielded a post-training evaluation (created by Athena and Barbara), and Farah got very high marks. The Associates left the class with fat issues of Vogue and In Style magazines stuffed in their purses--hiding the deep cleavage on the covers from prying eyes on their way home.
Wendy and Ladan spent the morning at the peaceful and beautiful Babur Gardens with Najib. Marla, Ray and Toni were visiting with Katrin Fakiri.
Khatera spent part of her day visiting an orphanage and refugee camp where she made a very generous donation of monies she had collected before leaving the US. She gave a mother in the refugee some moisturizing cream which was received as though it was a Rolls Royce.
Marketing the RKA Shop
The afternoon's agenda for Wendy, Ladan and Toni were next steps for the RKA shop. Lively discussion ensued regarding plans for marketing – many Associates happily reported how much free TV and magazine advertising they could get – Rahima is going to spread the word in Parliament, Asmat is going to place an ad in the Herat newspaper telling people that “When in Kabul make a stop at RKA, Bakhtnazira is going to bring her existing customers and Habiba is going to get free time on TV via her son who works for the station.
Farah was oblivious to the minor hub-bub--she was training the Associates on "How to make better fitting clothing." In her native Iran, Farah made her living as a seamstress. Today, of course, she operates a successful translation business in California and is trying to open a translation school here in Kabul. Back home thanks to Carol, Parinaz, Sonali, Karine and Emily for this module. We fielded a post-training evaluation (created by Athena and Barbara), and Farah got very high marks. The Associates left the class with fat issues of Vogue and In Style magazines stuffed in their purses--hiding the deep cleavage on the covers from prying eyes on their way home.
Wendy and Ladan spent the morning at the peaceful and beautiful Babur Gardens with Najib. Marla, Ray and Toni were visiting with Katrin Fakiri.
Khatera spent part of her day visiting an orphanage and refugee camp where she made a very generous donation of monies she had collected before leaving the US. She gave a mother in the refugee some moisturizing cream which was received as though it was a Rolls Royce.
Marketing the RKA Shop
The afternoon's agenda for Wendy, Ladan and Toni were next steps for the RKA shop. Lively discussion ensued regarding plans for marketing – many Associates happily reported how much free TV and magazine advertising they could get – Rahima is going to spread the word in Parliament, Asmat is going to place an ad in the Herat newspaper telling people that “When in Kabul make a stop at RKA, Bakhtnazira is going to bring her existing customers and Habiba is going to get free time on TV via her son who works for the station.
Toni showed the Associates their new Rangeen Kaman website under development by students at the Dubai Women's College. Toni was expecting some pushback from them on having their photos on the site, but they loved the treatment and are anxious to see the next iteration.
5 comments:
Keep up the good work everyone! I heard about the explosion via the internet, and was relieved that it turned out to be unexploded ordinance. Glad everyone is fine.
Your fans are following your daily activities closely. Looking forward to hearing more.
xoxo
Paula
Certainly seems like everyone is doing a great job. Keep it up! And Ray, you look very distinguished in that picture with all those women!
Best wishes,
-Jim
good morning all--
wonderful image of bpeacers spreading their brain, beauty and brawn all around kabul--thanks for being our on the ground presence. XXL
Ay Caramba! I've been unable to get onto the blog and the frustration is enormous...especially when the stories and pictures are so compelling. What a joy to see you and our associates beaming with pride and accomplishment. Talk about a "mitzvot" -- the highest form of charity. Giving of yourself and your skills is what distinguishes Bpeace from the rest. Sending love, Ellen Lubin-Sherman
With Toni's help RKA's marketing will be so great that they will have to hire additional sales staff to service all the customers. Great job team.
Kate B
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