T
"The goal is to draw
the youth away from a
radical mindset toward
a culture of tolerance."
he way of life enjoyed by Afghans
said Hassina after attending the workshop.
50 years ago started to shift when
“[The training] helped me realize that war
conservative leanings surfaced in
starts in the mind of individuals, so it is
the late 1970s. Liberal and conservative at-
important to work on the mind. Once the
titudes clashed during the Soviet invasion
mind is free of violence, there would be no
of Afghanistan in 1979, and under Soviet
room for conflict.”
influence and power, Afghan conservatism
Equipped with the skills she learned at the
Teaching peace-building concepts and
gained momentum. Its prevalence led to
workshop, Hassina brings a fresh attitude
skills as an alternative to violent extremism
radical mujahedeen groups taking control
and mindset to her conversations with family
encourages youth to engage positively with
of the country in the 1990s, which led to the
members, friends, and neighbors. Recently,
their peers on campus. The students bring
oppressive, extremist regime of the Taliban.
Hassina intervened when the father and
negotiation and mediation skills into their
The decades-long conflict destroyed
uncles of a high school senior stopped the
communities. They influence the dialogue
the basic infrastructure of Afghan society.
girl from attending school. She had several
among family members and neighbors.
Intolerance and religious extremism eroded
conversations with the men about the value
They model new ways to resolve differenc-
the unique and rich tradition of accommoda-
of education, especially for girls. Eventually,
es and avoid the violence that has plagued
tion and liberalism that had been the coun-
the men agreed to allow the girl to contin-
their villages and communities for decades.
try’s heritage. And no one suffered more un-
ue her studies. With Hassina’s help, the men
der the Taliban than Afghan
changed their thinking
women, including educated
about the girl’s right to an
and professional women.
education.
The difficult work of re-
If Afghanistan is to se-
covering what was lost in
cure a long-lasting peace,
Afghanistan and changing the
it falls on the youth—the
country’s orientation toward
country’s future leaders—
conflict is a steep hill to climb,
to adopt a peace-loving
requiring a paradigm shift in
mindset. But desiring
attitude and mindset. The pro-
peace and believing in
fessionals at the United States
peace are not enough.
Institute for Peace in Kabul
Once again, we turn to
believe that a comprehensive
the power of education
approach aimed at equipping
to initiate change. Peace
youth with peace-building
education
is
giving
skills will help restore a cul-
Afghan
youth
the
skills
to
A female peace activist presenting her team’s work on conflict resolution and
ture of tolerance and prevent
resist
the
cultural
pattern
peacebuilding at a training in Kabul, Afghanistan.
the spread of radicalism. If
of violence and repres-
Afghanistan is to know a last-
sion, particularly against
Hassina Qayumi is a professional woman
ing peace, the youth must be invested in
females, and to instead work toward
and member of Lincoln Learning Center in
peaceful outcomes and nonviolent solutions.
nonviolent solutions. Young people will
a southern province of Afghanistan. She’s
Education is the starting point, especially in
be the keepers of the new Afghanistan,
a role model for other women in her com-
universities where radical thinking among
the protectors of a culture and a country
munity. Hassina recently attended a conflict
passionate outliers can go unchecked.
committed to a progressive way of life for
resolution and peace-building training work-
In universities across Afghanistan,
all of its citizens. In their capable hands,
shop, where she learned the principles of
politicians, religious leaders, and violent
Afghanistan has the potential to return
negotiation, mediation, and other nonviolent
extremist groups convene, recruit new mem-
to greatness. l
approaches to conflict resolution.
bers, and build their networks. Therefore,
“Knowing about the problems of my
a comprehensive approach to equipping
community and finding nonviolent
youth with peace-building skills is required
solutions to them has become my passion,”
to counteract the attraction that extremism
holds for many young people. The goal is
AHMAD JAWED SAMSOR
MUHAMMAD IDREES
to draw youth away from a radical mindset
is a program manager for
is a research assistant with
toward a culture of tolerance.
peace education with the U.S.
the U.S. Institute of Peace
Institute of Peace in Kabul.
FALL 2019
in Kabul.
JOURNEY OF HOPE | 23