June 30, 2009

Bayat Foundation "Afghan Symposium"

As Co-Chair of the Afghan Trusted Network, it was an honor to join with fellow Co-Chair, Mr. John Gastright, as we stood on the grounds of this distinguished location with a view of our nations' Capitol on the "eve" of The Fourth of July. The site of this white dome overlooking the shoulders of our speakers—Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, H.E. Zalmay Khalilzad, Ehsan Bayat, Fatema Bayat, Mariam Bayat, Caroline Firestone, and The Honorable Paula Dobriansky—served as a crowning glory in celebration of our national holiday.

The "can-do" entrepreneurial spirit built this great nation 233 years ago, and this inspirational gathering of Afghan/Americans served as a reminder of the generosity etched in our soils/souls to give back to those in need.

Roots of Peace Board Member, Diane Baker, actress, debuted the video of our recent trip to Afghanistan in February 2009—showing faces of Afghan farmers and families with a vision of transforming MINES TO VINES by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful agricultural fields. The visual images of the proud men and women from the Nebraska National Guard who work closely with the Roots of Peace agricultural extension teams in the fields, serves as a shining example of the pioneer spirit which built our great country—one brick at a time!

In the spirit of turning "ideas into reality," it was a sincere honor to include Ms. Maria Luisa Reyes as a part of our Roots of Peace delegation. Over ten years ago, I made a telephone call from the basement of our family home to the 38th floor of the United Nations, the Executive Office of the U.N. Secretary-General. Maria "took my call" with an idea born in the heart of a mother. From there, she took the concept of MINES TO VINES to the ears of Mrs. Gillian Sorensen, former U.N. Assistant Secretary-General. Throughout the years, we earned the active support of His Excellencies Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon. Today a bright light adorns our Roots of Peace headquarters, as Ms. Reyes is now Director for International Relations.

Indeed, this was a proud moment for an American wife/mother/CEO to take a "stand" for peace—helping to heal the wounds of war in Afghanistan.

Happy Birthday, America!

Visiting Delegation/Guests of U.S.-Afghan Women's Counsel. Distinguished Members of Afghan
Parliament join Afghan Symposium for Humanitarian and Leadership Engagement include:

• Rahela Hashim Sidiqi, Sr. Advisor to the Chairman, Afghan Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission
• Fawzia Habibi, Director of Coordination and International Relations, Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs
• Eng Qudsia, Advisor to the Project Management Unit, Afghan Ministry of Public Works
• Zarmina Shaherzad, Department of International Education, Minstry of Education
• Nazira Rahimi, General Director, Home and Family Economics, Afghan Ministry of Agriculture
• Nahid Wardag, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Finance

Roots of Peace met with Afghan Women from Parliament in Kabul, Afghanistan in February 2009, and it was“full circle” to greet this distinguished delegation from the heart of Washington, D.C.

Afghan/American/U.A.E. women going forth to “plant the roots of peace” on earth...
Diane Baker, RoP Board Member; Bahareh Sharghi, RoP Penny Campaign Donor, Abu Dhabi; Fatema Bayat, Executive Director, Bayat Foundation; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace; Maria Reyes, RoP International Relations.

A vision for establishing an Afghan Trusted Network for the “Next Generation..."
Maria Luisa Reyes, RoP Director of International Relations, and Mariam Bayat, Bayat Foundation.

“Peace” is a Family Business...
Gary Kühn, Executive Director and Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace.