A light to the community

Jumagul fled his home in Afghanistan with his family and spent 20 years as a refugee in Iran. With the fall of the Taliban, he returned, only to find devastation. He lives with his family in a returnee township, Sohadat, on the outskirts of Herat, in the western region of the country. He talks of the conditions under which he and his family now live.

In Iran I had a daily income and decent facilities. I am an artist and my paintings were in demand on the Iranian market. Here, no one cares for paintings, not even for human beings! Today, I just live, not knowing what or where I am. I don't want this to happen to my five sons and daughter. I want to give them the identity that comes with having a home of their own. I am happy to be back and I dream that Afghanistan will progress and develop.

Landing in my country, I had to go on the streets, pulling carts to feed my family. I have been in Herat for the last five years. I came as a happy man and became a labourer and a helpless father. Of course, the government and NGOs helped us. Yet, we returnees had lost the confidence to rebuild our lives.

Suddenly there was a change in the township. You [JRS] didn't put up any signboard here but your presence was marked by an empowering symbol: light in our township and among our families.

JRS has brought an invisible, yet very real, symbol of hope to every household here. Not only did you give us electricity as light for our homes, you have also brought us the light of education, which parents want for their children.

I am a Muslim and I live by hope. Who am I to be considered your friend? If I had no hope, I wouldn't have had the chance to sit with you and share my life. I believe it is the kingdom of God that brings us all together around the world.

JRS has changed the face of our township. Your presence has challenged us, and has spurred other organisations to work faster. Our dilapidated houses are taking shape and the number of families in the township has increased from 32 to 58 within seven months. So I reaffirm that I believe in the heart—this is the religion I believe in.

Tapping the skills available in the returnee community, and joining hands with local government departments and other agencies, JRS is engaged in education, healthcare and livelihood programs to promote self-reliance among the Sohadat returnee community. A school was inaugurated on 1 April 2009, which as of the end of July had 117 students, including some from neighbouring villages, while 29 students from the township attend Shakihan High School nearby.

From Servir, Jesuit Refugee Service, Rome. See www.jrs.net.