Nine teens changed the world for three Afghans, 7,500 miles away. The Afghanistan project involved a camp, two motivated leaders, eleven teens, and three Afghans. We learned about the Afghanistan culture, religion, and lifestyle. Going to a skate park, learning Tae Kwon Do, traveling to a horse farm, and visiting the Minnesota Institute of Art are just a few of the things we did. Each activity was tied to Afghanistan culture. For instance, going to see a horse farm was related to Afghanistan’s national sport, Buzkashi, which is a game played while riding horses. Experiencing parts of the Afghan’s culture made it even more real. Also keeping a journal throughout the camp, thought-provoking questions were frequently asked to stimulate our minds. Luckily, the camp leaders made sure it bared little resemblance to school—something that surely would not go over well with the camp participants. Everything that I learned at camp went to the heart—nothing flew over my head.
The camp had an emotional effect on me; it opened my eyes. Dina and Kathy showed us that Afghanistan expands beyond bombs and war. Becoming real people, the Afghans were suddenly more than just statistics and numbers. They became our friends. During the camp, we communicated with three Afghans. Although it wasn’t direct, the fact that they were were saying our names was mind-blowing. A once in a lifetime opportunity, we got to ask questions via video, and then send the videos to the Afghans. In return, they would answer our delving questions, and ask their own questions. Facts that could not be ignored were told to us. Afghans think that we live underwater, according to Dina. A country should not be so disconnected that they believe anything they are told.
Understanding the need to take less for granted was another effect of the camp. Many Americans dream of living like Bill Gates, with a seemingly never ending amount of money. However, compared to the living conditions in IDP (internally-displaced persons) camps, we do live like Bill Gates. We have mansions, compared to the mud huts those in IDP camps are forced to live in. We have air conditioning and heating at the touch of a button. We have hot and cold drinkable water available to us, at the pull of a handle. We can go out to eat and have our food made for us. Our lives are incredibly easy.
School is an additional opportunity taken for granted. “For two years all my brothers tell me to go to harvest poppies, but I tell them I am not going to. What did all our ancestors who were in Helmand do? Did they become a doctor, an engineer, a police officer? They became nothing. But now I am studying and I will not let it go until I become a doctor, an engineer, or something.” Zerwali, and many other Afghans, need and love school. Meanwhile, kids in America despise school, and skipping school is not uncommon. One of Afghanistan’s most prized privilege is something we treat like a burden in America.
After the camp ended, we each had to come with a leadership project, to make a difference. I became the publicist of the project; I gave presentations and speeches, and publicized any activity of the other camp participants. Being the publicist made me feel like I was changing in the world. I felt empowered. After all, I’m just a teenager. The Afghanistan project changed my life for the better. Not only did it teach me about Afghanistan culture, but it let me have the opportunity of a lifetime—talking to an Afghan. Learning how isolated Afghanistan really was saddened me. I also began to take less for granted, like school, our living conditions, and easily accessible food and water. Dina and Kathy told us we can make a difference, and we can. Slowly, the 7,500 mile bridge is getting smaller.