Every day, all over the world, USAID brings peace to those who endure violence, health to those who struggle with sickness, and prosperity to those who live in poverty. It is these individuals — these uncounted thousands of lives — that are the true measure of USAID’s successes and the true face of USAID's programs.
Building the capacity of Afghanistan’s professionals is essential for Afghanistan’s successful future. USAID is committed to providing both development assistance and educational programs that will allow Afghans to maintain and expand the development infrastructure in their country. In September 2009, USAID launched the sixth round of its engineering internship program with a new class of 21 interns.
In Afghanistan, everyday heroes risked their lives during periods of violence and repressive rule to preserve their country’s heritage. To one professor in the Biology Department at Kabul University, each day under the Taliban regime must have held a unique degree of terror as he transferred the university’s extensive herbarium (a collection of preserved plant specimens), piece by piece, to his home for protection. When the Taliban fell, he returned this precious scientific treasure to the university. It remained there for years, in a dusty storeroom, waiting to be restored.
On December 8, 2009, more Afghans in the capital city of Kabul gained access to locally produced power from the USAID-funded Tarakhil Power Plant. Engineers activated the plant’s third and final power block, rendering the plant fully capable of producing the 105 megawatts (MW) of energy it was built to deliver.
Afghan-led, community-oriented development is essential to building a well-governed, democratic country that meets the needs of its citizens. USAID and the Afghan Independent Directorate of Local Governance are helping Afghans take ownership of their own local governance and development priorities through the creation of community councils. These councils improve community coordination and communication with the Afghan government on issues such as security, corruption, and development.
When paraveterinarian Momena Mohammadi drives to villages to treat farmers’ livestock, other Afghan women ask her how they too can become a paravet. Women are not the only ones eager to follow in her footsteps; Mohammadi’s husband and eldest son also want to earn a living through veterinary services.
Insurance firms are essential to economic growth because they facilitate investment and reduce the risk of doing business. Through USAID assistance, a major internationally recognized and underwritten insurance company is now operating in Afghanistan. The opening of the Insurance Company of Afghanistan (ICA) in early 2008 marked a significant achievement for Afghanistan’s private sector, encouraging both domestic and international investment in Afghanistan while serving tens of thousands of Afghan businesses.
Afghanistan’s pomegranate juice is renowned for its flavor within the country, but its benefits have largely been unavailable in other countries. That changed on November 21, when Omaid Bahar Processing Company, a modern juice processing facility established with the support of USAID, secured its first export deal. The deal marks the first export of any kind of Afghan juice to an international buyer.
Each morning, Hamida, an eleven-year-old student in Kabul, packs her schoolbag. Alongside her pens and books, she carries a bright green-and-white laptop. “It’s like a friend and teacher to me,” she says. “I can look and try to solve questions and spend my time learning.”
Ali Jan lives in Mendrawol village in Laghman province, along a road being constructed by USAID. With new roads come community outreach and development projects. In addition to providing better access to schools, clinics, and markets, USAID ensures that its roads projects include development initiatives requested by local communities.
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