Cultures of Resistance

While on assignment in Afghanistan, world-renowned National Geographic photojournalist Reza Deghati had a chance encounter with a young student in Kabul. He recalls the pride with which the young boy held a small sprout that he had carefully planted and grown from a seed. When asked what he intended to do with his plant, the boy responded, “I am going to grow a tree.” Inspired by this encounter, Reza founded AïNA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the civil roots of peace, freedom, and democracy in Afghanistan through the promotion of independent cultural expression.

Cultures of Resistance is proud to support AïNA in its efforts to rebuild Afghanistan’s civil society, and especially to promote the education and empowerment of women and children, the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

After generations of continual conflict, Afghanistan’s people are now struggling to rebuild their economy, infrastructure, and society; however, women and girls continue to face a significant amount of discrimination, harassment, and abuse. The economic contributions of women remain undervalued, and they still make up a significant portion of Afghanistan’s illiterate population. Health care for women is limited and almost non-existent in rural regions of the country, and women's efforts to voice their concerns and needs are often censored or ignored.

Since 2001, AïNA has initiated education programs, facilitated the development of local media production, and supported the enhancement of large-scale communication in Afghanistan. Reza's organization aims to close the technological gap between the world’s rich and poor by offering Afghans comprehensive video, photography, and journalism training. In 2009, 40 students took photography classes with AïNA-trained photographers, and sponsored productions such as the Emmy-nominated Regards d'Afghanes, produced by the Women Videomakers Group, recount how women across the various regions of Afghanistan see the history and future of their country. AïNA also supports the distribution of newspapers and lifestyle magazines, including Seerat, aimed at the growing population of working women, and Malalaï, which educates women on their political rights. Finally, the organization aims to expand access to information, particularly for the illiterate and rural sections of the Afghan population. Radio programs such as Myane Mah ("Between Us") and Dar Velayat Chi Megsarat ("What's New In The Provinces?"), broadcast in both Dari and Pashto, discuss issues related to education, health, politics, and entertainment. In 2009, AïNA's Radio Parvaz inaugurated a broadcast special presented by Afghani children, and AïNA's opened a multimedia center for street children that it will further develop in 2010. Collectively, AïNA’s initiatives have created a far-reaching network that includes about 1,000 trained students and journalists, 5 million readers, a traveling movie theater, 4 million regular radio listeners, and 8 media and cultural centers.

What You Can Do

AïNA urges people who are interested in advocating for education and cultural expression in Afghanistan to volunteer for the organization. AïNA needs volunteers as well as professionals in the area of media, education, culture, and communication. The Paris, Kabul, and Washington, D.C. teams will welcome your skills. To join AïNA and use your experience and commitment to serve education in the name of peace and democracy, in Afghanistan and elsewhere, visit this page for position openings and application instructions.