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Agriculture and Education—A Journey to AfghanistanSince beginning work in Afghanistan in 2001, Roots of Peace:
NOVEMBER 11, 2009  Pennies being tossed into the Roots of Peace Fountain—“Wishing Well for Global Peace” at the Grgich Hills Estate in Napa California. As the wheels of our plane touched down on the landing strip of Kabul International Airport, Golden “pennies” in California were simultaneously tossed into the Roots of Peace Wishing Well—a fountain for global peace created by legendary Croatian-born Miljenko “Mike” Grgich in the Napa Valley honoring veterans of war including those currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Heidi Kühn inspects grapes at one of RoP's grape trellising projects. Going to the core of peace literally on the other side of the world—these two events occurred at the same time—in tribute to the current 68,000 U.S. military men and women, and the 40,000 NATO-ISAF troops who bravely walk the landmine and UXO riddled soils each day. Gazing out my window as the plane came to a stop at the new International Terminal built by the Germans was a surreal experience, as we were counting on these “good luck” coins from across the world to build schools and restore childhood dreams on war-torn lands. Turning MINES TO VINES in 20 of the 34 provinces with 300 Afghan employees brings forth peace from the ground up through the tools of agriculture and education. Stepping off the tarmac, our journey to plant the roots of peace was most fitting way to greet Veteran’s Day 2009.  Gary Kühn discusses agricultural techniques with local Afghan farmers.
NOVEMBER 12, 2009 Coincidence or Destiny? Upon our arrival, we were honored to receive an invitation attend a private dinner graciously hosted by Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan on the occasion of an agriculture themed dinner honoring The Governors Delegation from the United States of America.  Roots of Peace is on target to export 1,200 metric tons of fresh grapes and apples from Afghanistan to India and Pakistan—doubling/tripling the income for Afghan farmers—one of the largest agricultural export programs in 2009. The first refrigerated shipment of fresh grapes and apples were trucked across borders to port city of Karachi, Pakistan—allowing Afghan farmers wide-spread market reach. Both Governors were not familiar with the impact of our non-profit organization, and were pleased to see American tax-dollars wisely utilized by working with grants from USAID, USDA, DOD, and the U.S. Department of State. In addition, our Roots of Peace model is being replicated by foreign donors such as the Asian Development Bank, European Community, and The World Bank.  Brigadier General Barbara Faulkenberry, USAF, examines RoP Mir Bacha Kot fresh fruit packing facility-training Afghans in cold storage export.  Brigadier General Lonnie Culver, US Army, Bagram, discusses importance of training Afghan farmers in modern export techniques-doubling/tripling the income to poppies.
The finale to the evening was opportunity to purchase elegant hand-made items made by “Dina”—an Afghan widow—who is supported through the generosity of Mrs. Ching Eikenberry. Such efforts to help Afghan artisans have a ripple effect across the country, as the preservation of culture provides income for families. For instance, Wahidullah, age 25, a Landmine Survivor, presented a hand-made garment to Roots of Peace in appreciation for demining his land and restoring dignity for the next generation to walk without fear.
 Wahidullah, a landmine survivor, presents a hand-made garment to Roots of Peace.
 Roots of Peace Afghan Girls Soccer Team playing a tournament in San Patrignano, Italy.
NOVEMBER 13, 2009 The Roots of Peace Afghan Girls Soccer Team has trained on our compound since the inception of our work in 2003. Remarkably, these skilled soccer players have practiced each week, and ultimately led their way to victory on the same soccer field where the women were hung for not wearing their burkas—truly a win/win!  Roots of Peace Afghan Girls Soccer Team on a soccer field built by Roots of Peace.
Team sports for girls is rare in Afghanistan. Yet, I had the opportunity to personally take these talented girls on a “field trip” to play in a European Tournament in Rimini, Italy, through generous funding provided by Mr. Andrea Muccioli of San Patrignano in October 2008. Together, the team was led by Farid, a landmine survivor who lost his leg at age six while kicking a soccer ball out of bounds.  Fawad, landmine survivor & coach, San Patrignano, Italy, Soccer Tournament. As he retrieved the only ball in his village from the fields where his mother told him not to go, his suffered the blast of a landmine—a child’s worst nightmare. Yet, after spending one year in the hospital, he courageously rallied to re-learn the game of soccer—playing on three legs, rather than two—mastering the art of crutches to kick goals with his good leg. While Friday the 13th is traditionally viewed as a day of “bad luck” in America, I felt so very fortunate to see these proud Afghan girls playing soccer despite current political conditions. Their teamwork demonstrates the power of the human spirit, and the ability to rally amidst adversity. A proud “Soccermom” knows no borders!
 Afghan children volunteer to help parents unpack orange saplings. NOVEMBER 15, 2009 Roots of Peace was honored to be invited back to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, as we briefed both Ambassador and Mrs. Eikenberry regarding the “roots” of our organization. We were honored to be joined by Mr. John Pinnell and Ms. Rebecca Black, representing USAID. Grounded creativity is the way forward, as we toasted to “the American spirit being alive and well” with a glass of fresh orange juice! It was fitting to toast with fresh orange juice, as the year 2009 began with the shipment of the 10,000 orange saplings sent from Exter, California to Jalalabad, Afghanistan.  Francisco Sandor, RoP, opens a box from a shipment of 10,000 orange saplings.
 California National Guard ADT, Badam Bagh, Afghanistan. NOVEMBER 16, 2009 Roots of Peace proudly hosted the California National Guard ADT (Agricultural Development Team) at our local compound in Kabul—serving our fellow Californians their first traditional Afghan meal since their arrival in Kunar province. It is vitally important that we develop innovative collaboration between military forces and NGO’s with a “clear and hold” strategy.  USDA wheat flour monetization $4.1 million program. As the ADT’s work to clear the fields, Roots of Peace works right behind to establish an agricultural foothold for Afghan farmers to cultivate alternative crops to poppies. Later, we visited Badam Bagh built by USAID funding—a virtual living library of local agricultural fruits, nuts and vegetables. Working together, our aim is to restore the legacy of Afghanistan as The Garden of Central Asia in a country which is 80% dependent upon agriculture.
 Afghan traders celebrate purchase of USDA wheat flour! Before dusk, we continued our journey into the markets and alleys of Kabul where we met with an Afghan trader who was thrilled to purchase a portion of the $4.1 million worth of wheat flour monetized for grape trellising in Ghazni, Wardak and Logar—giving “naan” (Dari for bread) for Afghans to once again “break bread” with their neighbors in prosperity.  Breaking bread “Naan” with Afghan farmers.
NOVEMBER 18, 2009  Brigadier General Barbara Faulkenberry, USAF, greets Afghan students at Mir Bacha Kot School. Brigadier General Barbara Faulkenberry flew 1300 miles from Baghdad, Iraq, to join her fellow Brigadier General Lonnie Culver to greet the students at Mir Bacha Kot School—built entirely out of “pennies” raised by children from America, Abu Dhabi, Italy, Canada and the U.K.! In August 2005, there were only 40 students studying beneath a small tent adjacent to a large grapevine in the blazing summer heat.  Boxes of clothing donated by the Afghan Business Network.  Afghan students awaiting distribution of clothing.  Heidi greets Afghan students at Mir Bacha Kot School.
 Meeting in Principle's office at Mir Bacha Kot school with Governor of Mir Bacha Kot, The Honorable Rahim Rashid.  “Educational Tools” Rotary Club of San Francisco #2 donated English dictionaries to Roots of Peace for Afghan students. Furthermore, Mr. Qasim Tarin and the San Rafael Youth Performers Theater Group provided the funds to establish a new library (500 books in Dari!) implemented by The Dupree Foundation, and English Dictionaries donated by the Rotary Club of San Francisco #2. (Read an Afghan student's letter of gratitude for building their school in Afghanistan.) In addition, over 400 boxes of clothing and warm blankets gathered from Fremont, California by the Afghan Business Network for distribution by Roots of Peace—the largest Afghan/American community in the USA. The Governor of Mir Batcha Kot was extremely proud of the efforts made by the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign, as many of these children will never have a chance to meet their beneficiaries. Yet, lessons of “giving” were learned on both sides. And, one day, these children will tell their grandchildren of the story of a school built entirely out of pennies which gave them the gift of education. Inshallah! Across the road, the Mir Bacha Kot Fresh Fruit Packing facility was filled with “Apples for the Teachers”—an American term for providing polished apples!  Mir Bacha Kot teacher distributes clothing to students.  Heidi Kühn distributes clothing to a grateful student.
 New “Qasim Tarin Library” ribbon cutting ceremony.
 Heidi Kühn & Brigadier General Barbara Faulkenberry, USAF, riding in a MRAP (Mine Protection Ambush Vehicle).
NOVEMBER 19, 2009 In the pre-dawn hours of The Presidential Inauguration, our Roots of Peace agricultural team planned to depart Kabul for the mountains of the panoramic Panjshir Valley. No one could have prepared us for the thousands of Afghan military forces that surrounded the City of Kabul in at least four concentric circles of “check-points.” Trapped at our 5-star Serena Hotel in downtown, our team could not enter our facility at 5:00 AM for departure due to military closure of Kabul. Fortunately, our Deputy Country Director, Sharif, was still inside of the city limits, and was able to extract us from the offices only minutes prior to complete shut-down by military check points. It was an eerie feeling to drive along empty streets which is typically home to an estimated three (3) million residents! As we approached Bagram Market Center for “tea” with our local Afghan staff, the sun began to rise amidst the dried vineyards.  Sunrise in Afghanistan.
 Entrance to the Bagram Market Center. We ventured to greet a proud Afghan farmer, Wahidullah who lost his leg to a landmine at age 10 and suffered in a German hospital for over a year. Today, he has returned to his vineyard, and watches over his grapes and girls as both a vintner and a father. Some men have two legs and no smile. This man had no legs and one of the biggest smiles, as he felt so fortunate to have the “gift of life.” He shared the words from the Quran, “Never lose hope!”  Heidi visits with Wahidullah and his daughter. Driving further into the Panshir Valley, we planted our first apricot tree in a once barren valley. The Afghan farmers greeted us, and I was given the inaugural tree to carry up the hill as a symbolic planting for orchards to come. The children of the village gathered around to water the tree, as they are the future generation!  Afghan farmers in the Panshir Valley.  Heidi assists with the planting activities.
 Young Afghan boys water the first apricot tree planted in the Panshir Valley. En route, we were greeted by the ISAF forces and the brave men and women from Fort Hood, Texas, who recently experienced the atrocities inflicted upon their friends/colleagues earlier this month. As they geared up into the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protection) vehicles, they proudly bellowed a “Happy Thanksgiving” from Afghanistan to America—reminding us of the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables which are helping to create a cornucopia of peace.  Jean-Pierre, RoP and ISAF soldier are interviewed.  ISAF Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicle (MRAP).
The finale of the day was a delicious Afghan meal prepared by farmers living on the riverbank of the Panjshir Valley. Far removed from the closed city of Kabul, it was hard to imagine anything but a myriad of fresh fruits and vegetables flourishing along the rapidly moving river with jagged snow-capped mountains. 
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 Getting back into Kabul through concentric circles of Afghan military check-points was a midnight affair, yet once again we arose to the dawn’s early light. Leaving my husband, Gary, back in Kabul, I boarded a flight for Mazar-e-Sharif to the north—only to learn upon arrival that their Governor Ata had left the country for Uzbekistan with his entire family. This seemingly safe journey was now riddled with speculation among the locals. Yet, we prevailed and visited the exquisite Islamic blue mosque, which dominates the city center. Hundreds of white doves surrounded us--fluttering as though they were the wind beneath our wings on the journey yet to come.  
NOVEMBER 21, 2009 The three (3) hour drive from Mazar-e-Sharif took us through our Afghan nursery featuring dozens of Samangan provincial farmers diligently working among the 55,000 almond saplings to prepare for the 500 orchards to be planted by mid-December 2009. The remaining almonds were preserved for the remainder of 1,500 orchards to be planted in Spring 2010 through the HLP program of The World Bank implemented by Roots of Peace. The tenacity of these Afghan farmers was remarkable!  Afghan farmers in the Panshir Valley. Francisco Sandor, our RoP Hungarian Director, led the charge to Camp Pannonia in Baghlan, where we met with the wife of the Hungarian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mrs. Tunde Maria Szvetek Tolline. This inspirational woman resides on the Hungarian ISAF base, and has managed to create a beautiful home amidst the barracks. Instead of remaining in the safe zone, she ventures out to help the Afghan women as part of her personal mission as a fellow cancer survivor.  Heidi, Tunde & Francisco confer at Chel Khappa Village in Baghlan. Together, we drove to Chel Khappa Village to be greeted by a “kaleidoscope” of colorfully dressed Afghan women who were interested to hear of the mission of Roots of Peace—DEMINE/REPLANT/REBUILD. Surrounded by the village elders, they asked me to address the hundreds of locals who were gathered amidst the 40 plus Afghan military forces standing on the mud walls as a means of protection. Together, with Tunde, we listened to the plight of these women who suffered greatly during the harsh winters with limited food supplies and suffered from lack of healthy medical standards. There was a “sea of burkas” and each one trusted us to unlift their veil to tell their stories, as our Afghan translators worked as fast as they could to convey their many messages. It was a most unusual site, as the village elders trusted our sincere efforts to extend help to these forgotten Afghan villagers and families.  Chel Khappa village in the Baghlan Province.  Chel Khappa village in the Baghlan Province.
 Chel Khappa village in the Baghlan Province.
 Heidi Kühn presents warm clothing donated from Fremont, California- the largest population of Afghan-Americans in the USA. As our journey continued to the Afghan Women's Prison, we were introduced to a foreign world where women lived behind the walls of society. And, their children suffered the “sins” of their mothers rather than being thrown into the streets since their families disavowed them. Distributing clothing, blankets and new toys to the “poorest of the poor,” we were able to bring a ray of hope.  Meeting with Colonel Amir, the prison warden.  Woman and children in the Baghlan prison.  Toys and clothing are presented to the children in the prison.
 Children living in the Baghlan prison.  Heidi Kukn, Governor of Baghlan Province, Hajji Mohammad Akhbar Barakzai, and Ambassador Istvan Tolli hold a private meeting in the Governer's office in Baghlan. Two rooms with eight women to each room—and only one bathroom—were living conditions which I had never imagined. Colonel Amir was quite accommodating and allowed us to inquire “why” these women were sentenced to prison. The women holding a 10 day old baby in her arms, whispered that she was raped by her uncle and thrown cast into the courts by her fiancé. Looking down at the beautiful child in her arms, one could only imagine the grief which was wrapped in her soul…as tightly as the garments embracing the infant.   A tree of life was planted as a symbol of the "Garden Behind the Walls"—giving women and children hope as they nurture their roots. Colonel Laszlo SZABO, commander, Hungarian PRT/ISAF invited us to plant a symbolic Roots of Peace tree amidst an array of landmines and UXOs—a visual example of turning "Mines to Vines." The ending of our journey was in tribute to the two Hungarian ISAF soldiers who had died in June 2009 as a result of landmines. This tree of life was planted in honor of Gyula Kovacs (1978-2008) and Krisztian Nemes (1976-2008), and serves as a symbol of lasting hope for the ISAF forces who continue to work along-side of Roots of Peace. In Spring 2010, our surge for peace will help to plant ,2000 new orchards in the region where these footsteps were lost to the perils of landmines. 
 1.2 MILLION TREES PLANTED BY ROOTS OF PEACE!
DECEMBER 3, 2009 UC Merced Chancellor's Associate Scholars are selected for their extraordinary capacity to make a difference in the lives of many. The admirable work of Ms. Kühn and the Roots of Peace organization provide tangible examples of how individuals can come together to make a profound impact locally and globally.
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