Abdullah Haiwad lives in London and is an entrepreneur and businessman. He has been studying for an MBA over the past year and is co-founder of Afghan Action. This is his 6th visit to Afghanistan in the past 30 months. His involvement, expertise and wide range of contacts have been crucial to the establishment of Afghan Action’s work in Kabul.

The positive change in Afghan Action’s management and pattern of working is clearly visible. Cleanliness has the highest priority. There are flowers and greenery on the front and back yard of the property, which was what we wished for when we started.

Comparing this visit to last year when I was in Kabul (July/August 2006) there are visible changes in the working conditions of staff and trainees.
 
Working conditions are much better than when I was here last July/August 2006.  Now there are four fans to keep the main halls cool and circulate air. Dust masks are worn by everyone weaving the carpets.
 
Details of stock control as well as trainees’ daily attendance are no longer the responsibility of the General Manager but are taken care of by trainers or those responsible for dealing with them as part of their designated jobs.
 
There is a nurse who is employed by Afghan Action. She is at work from 8am to 4pm. She treats basic medical problems. There is not enough medicine in the store but even with such limited resources she is doing her best. They need a budget of at least $50 per month to buy basic medicine. If a serious problem arises, where medicine can’t be provided, she refers the person to the local hospital. The need for medicine is urgent.

The nurse is giving health education to all trainees at variable times. She also teaches those who are not able to keep up in the classroom with the rest of the trainees. When she has time, she teaches Kazim the gate keeper and Reza the trainee. Reza will remain a trainee as he is mentally disabled due to being hit by shrapnel some years ago.
 
We have two teachers for adult teaching. One of them comes from 8.30am to 10.30am and the other from 2pm to 4pm. These two teachers are provided by the Department of Adult Education and they are paid by the Government. We also have our own teacher who is employed by Afghan Action. She comes from 1pm to 4 pm teaching the small number of those who are under 14 years of age. The under 14s receive more education than they would get in school.
 
I had lunch when I visited Afghan Action. They provided rice, vegetables or meatballs and water melon. Very filling. The caterers are happy providing the meals and the food is really good and sufficient.
 
I saw a smile on everyone's face when they saw me and they looked very pleased. I spoke to the trainees. Some of them were uncertain if they will stay as they are not ready to work by themselves. But the graduates who are employed to work on a per square metre basis are happy. They didn’t ask for a pay rise, which was a surprise for me as every previous time I had visited AA trainees and graduates, they had asked for a rise. The master trainers are happy with what they are paid and with their working conditions. At present, some of the trainers are weaving carpets while others are training the remaining 40 trainees. A new batch of trainees will start soon.
 
I met with the staff of Afghan Action and they made the following comments:
 
None of the employees spoke of an increase of wages except the nurse. The nurse is a single parent with three children and her wage is not enough, therefore she requested a pay rise. Every staff member supported the proposal.
 
Market research has been carried out by Nazir. Because we provide training, education, lunch, medical care etc, our prices are higher than those of other producers. Selling carpets in Kabul’s markets will not make any sense. However, if two people can be employed to go to ISAF, NGOs and guesthouses (where UN and overseas staff stay) we may be able to sell some carpets for good prices. This will be a tester for the Afghan market but there are no guarantees that this programme will be a success. But it is worth trying.
 
A very encouraging visit.

Abdullah Haiwad
July 14 2007