The Back Story

Late February 2011, as I was to depart for the annual Yuma Art Symposium, word came from long-time colleague Phyllis Woods, of an opportunity. She'd been asked to suggest someone to work with her on a design, gem and jewelry project in Afghanistan. Recruiting agency International Executive Service Corp., an arm of the Rockefeller Foundation, contacted me on Phyllis' tip. What proceeded was a 5 month, on-again-off-again, roller-csoster ride of an experience. Four departure dates from March 22nd, 3 application ordeals, countless other forms and documents necessary to the vetting process and at least 2 signed contracts led to a flight from Tucson by way of Dubai, UAE on July 7th, 2011. Due in part to some scheduling conflicts, Phyllis did not join the project.

The scope of work, as it's called here, is to train working Afghan jewelers and gem cutters in modern jewelry techniques and improve product quality, design and sales. The target market for those sales are U.S. military,contractors and ex-pats.

This project is being run by the United States Agency for International Development under it's Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development project and administered by Development Alternatives Inc.--U.S. tax dollars at work abroad. ASMED has as many as 90 projects completed or ongoing in Afghanistan from agriculture to marketing to this jewelry training.

The ASMED team is a polyglot of Afghan Nationals and Internationals, who, with equal parts professionalism and cynicism make it all work. From the DAI managers and security personnel (after all, it is a war zone) to the friendly Afghan drivers and housekeeping staff everybody seems to get along. The "compound" is a group of several large homes, guest houses and other structures on a main roadway. Currently only the Design Master Trainer, Coco, is housed at the compound. Jim, the Gem Trainer and I are staying in Kabul City at a hotel. We hope to move to the "house", as the Security Chief calls it, soon. Meals in the compound are superior to the hotel.

More about the hotel, the training and the experience in Chicken Street upcoming...