One of the struggles of working in Afghanistan with Afghans was the danger of violence that they had to face twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Afghans were one of the most dedicated souls I have ever met and worked with.
One such person was Engineer Abdul-Fattah Haidari, who lived in the village of Shoorab in Shindand District. He had gotten his engineering degree in Herat, though he could have stayed in the relative safety of Herat City, he decided to dedicate his young life to the improvement and empowerment of his community specially women. Haidari, set up his own NGO, called the Shindand Women Social Foundation (SWSF) and held many trainings, from literacy classes to sowing, computer training to English classes. In a country where educating women is challenging in the best of circumstances, Haidari was an embodiment of courage and did his work despite all the threat to him and his family.
He worked tirelessly and was always ready to give a helping hand wherever possible. Haidari understood that strengthening Afghan national identity was essential in creating a viable, strong society and nation. Haidari worked with all groups and reached out to all Afghans, regardless of their tribal affliation, to him all Afghans were his family.
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Unfortunately, a year ago i got a phone call from Shindand, and was informed that my brother, Abdul-Fattah had been found murdered in his office in Shindand Town.
So on this one year anniversary of his death, we remember, Haidari, one of the millions of Afghans who made the ultimate sacrifice, with courage and dignity to make Afghanistan a better, a stonger and a progressive nation. May he Rest in Peace.
I looked at myself, I did not see me anymore,
For in that moon, my body turned as fine as soul,
The nine spheres disappeared in that moon,
The Ship of my existence drowned in that sea. Rumi
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