by Gagandeep Kaur, Programs Intern
"We old citizens of Kabul have suffered so much that protection of this area would be like dropping water in the mouth of a thirsty man." -Pahlwan Aziz, head of the Murad Khane shura.
Murad Khane is located on the Kabul River, near new city hotels and the old bird market. The residents Murad Khane are comprised of mixed ethnicities and religions, with Qizilbash, Tajik, Hazara and Pashtun living side by side despite the civil war. By 2005, the damage by neglect, war and unscrupulous developers left this once-vibrant area under 2 meters of garbage, without a clean water supply or proper sanitation. The historic houses were collapsing weekly from lack of maintenance and harsh weather.
This gave birth to the Turquoise Mountain Foundation (TMF). TMF is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 2006 by Rory Stewart, a Scottish citizen whose recent book about travels in Afghanistan has received critical acclaim. Their mission is to regenerate a historic area of the capital (Kabul), renew Afghan traditional arts, and spur the sustainable development of the nation’s craft industry.
A central project is the restoration of Murad Khane and creation of a commercial and historic center in the Old City (Kabul) north of the Kabul River. This will result in development of jobs, skills and a renewed sense of national pride for Afghan men and women.
TMF and the Murad Khane community have accomplished the following:
- Cleared 5000 cubic meters of rubbish which dropped the street level by two meters and provided employment opportunities for all unemployed men in the area
- Installed 200 meters of drainage and dug two new wells for drinking water
- Paved streets in stone
- Repaired over 50 buildings
- Opened a literacy center to provide supplementary education for 156 children
- Engaged a part-time doctor to provide basic on-site medical care and referrals to hospitals
- Started an embroidery training program for 30 women
- Enlisted Murad Khane with the World Monuments Fund as one of the 100 Most Endangered Sites of cultural heritage worldwide
This foundation has developed a Centre for Traditional Afghan Arts and Architecture. It performs the following tasks:
- Develops new Afghan designs in wood, calligraphy and ceramics at the Institute or schools;
- Promotes Afghan handicrafts through national and international exhibitions and media campaigns
- Opens new markets for the craftsmen
- Restores key parts of the Kabul museum collection
- Renovates public spaces
- Builds capacity in government and universities
- Maintains a www.turquoisemountainarts.af and a catalogue to sell the products of the ten highest quality Afghan artisans and workshops
TMF has called upon the greatest masters in Afghanistan to train students to produce masterpieces in wood, calligraphy and ceramics. Students at the Institute study full-time five days a week, and receive education in all aspects of their chosen craft such as design; technical drawing safety and materials management; Dari literacy; and English, computer and business skills. This is important because Afghan traditional arts are still one of the largest industries in the country and provides employment to the most vulnerable, including women and the rural poor.
The group has taken on a monumental task to restore Murad Khane amidst war to bring hope, employment, and pride in Afghan art and culture to the local communities. You can support Turquoise Mountain Foundation or any of its projects (development of traditional crafts, preservation of historic buildings, business development, education, etc) by contributing to Give2Asia Turquoise Fund or contacting us directly.
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