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Planting Peace in Afghanistan Heidi Kuhn, CEO & Founder June 2, 2008 Roots of Peace was invited to the annual Squisito! event hosted at San Patrignano, Italy, on May 30 thru June 2. Over 50,000 European guests attended to savor a "taste of peace" from countries such as Myanmar, Peru, Thailand and Afghanistan--all through the efforts of NGO organizations seeking to establish successful public/private partnerships to replace "seeds of terror" with "seeds of hope." Among the many distinguished speakers was Mr. Jorge Rios, Director, Sustainable Agricultural Programs, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. He praised the courageous efforts of the many NGO's who are seeking to empower farmers to provide alternative agricultural crops to poppies. Roots of Peace imported a variety of dried Afghan fruits and nuts imported from diverse areas of Afghanistan where we are actively working with local farmers. Our public display of products gave the European community and celebrity chefs the opportunity to taste the high quality of products produced by Afghan farmers--pistachios, shindu khani grapes, kismish khani grapes, walnuts, mulberries, and many other products. After experiencing a "taste" of the quality of Afghan products harvested by Roots of Peace farmers, it was a matter of time before other high level chefs were approaching our booth to seek tiny dried kismish khani grapes and long light green shindu khani grapes for their famous risotto rice dishes. As word got around the community, those who produced quality ice cream approached us for bags full of pistachios--creating high demand for a creamy cone of Afghan pistachios ice cream which cooled the palate, as innovative conversations for peaceful harvests began. The finale of the Squisito! experience occurred when the American and Italian children met an Afghan teacher from The Touheed School in Herat, Afghanistan. She told them of the harsh winter this past year, as hundreds of parents died from the cold. Now, she teaches over 100 Afghan orphans, and has never left her country to visit Europe--much less meet an American mother! So, the children hand-tied the Afghan products in small packages and sold them to the public for two (2) Euros per package. As they explained the importance of the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign in both English and Italian, the donors from throughout Europe began to purchase the individual packages of fruit as a means to "give back" to the deserving people of Afghanistan. To our great surprise, over 350 EUROS were raised to help purchase school supplies and clothing for the orphans who attend school--from our HEART to HERAT! The PHOTOS above depict the members of the San Patrignano staff who joined us in the vineyards in a tribute to our MINES TO VINES planting on Italian soil. A permanent plaque is firmly established in the ground to remind visitors of the moment when "Afghan, American and Italian" hands joined together to get down on our knees to plant the roots of peace. For, regardless of the faith in our hearts, the color of our hands, or the politics in our minds, a simple "grapevine" will grow when planted, nurtured, and cultivated. This is the generational wisdom where our partnership between Roots of Peace and San Patrignano provides fertile grounds for peace in the vineyards--turning MINES TO VINES--as we heal both the soil and the soul.
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