Afghan refugee children's artwork goes on display at NATO HQ

More than 400 Afghan children participated in workshops organised as a joint project by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Slovenian Embassy in Iran, international governmental and non-governmental organisations, and the Slovenian non-governmental organization, “Art Centre of Young People from Celje”.

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed what he called “an imaginative project”, praising the organisers for their initiative.

The project met with an enthusiastic response in both Afghanistan and Iran, and the children took the challenge very seriously. They were asked to express their perception of their national customs, traditional dances and Afghan dress.

The selection of their works ranges from colourful illustrations of dancing and family parties to skillful sketches of portraits and landscapes. Children of all ages participated in the workshops, including 16-year-old Farzaneh Akhondi from Pamchal Art Gallery in Herat, whose drawing won her a week in Slovenia.

Afghan dreams

Remarking on the positive nature of the drawings, Afghan Ambassador Homayoun Tandar said that the exhibition “awakened hope”. He remembered a similar initiative years before when Afghan and Pakistani child refugees were asked to make drawings, noting that, in stark contrast to the present exhibition, the children’s drawings then were dark images of death, destroyed villages and refugee camps.

Ambassador Tandar expressed his delight that “the Afghan child has another vision of himself, his country, his culture, his tradition and his future.” He thanked NATO and its Allies for their cooperation in bringing about the change which allows these young artists to have hope for their future and live “the Afghan dream” depicted in the colourful and joyful drawings on display.

Security and development

NATO’s Secretary General remarked on the talent of the young artists and said that their hope and ambitions for the future were reflected in their paintings. “We want our children to have ambitions and we hope that one day these ambitions may be realised,” he said.

Speaking about NATO’s operation in Afghanistan, Mr Fogh Rasmussen stressed that “our progress is not just marked by increased security, it is also marked by towns being rebuilt, refugees who are returning home and by children who are able to go to school,” he said.

Describing his recent visit to Herat, the Secretary General said that the busy streets with market stalls, shoppers and children playing on the pavements were “a true measure of both security and development reinforcing one another”.

Slovenian contribution

In conclusion, Slovenian Ambassador Dr Božo Cerar said the art workshops for the Afghan children provided an opportunity to focus attention on the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as the need to establish conditions that would enable them to return to their homes. The workshops also highlighted the importance of being sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable groups, especially children, in particular, their right to freedom of expression and to collective identities.

Ambassador Cerar underlined Slovenia’s commitment to continue assisting the Afghan population, saying that his country would put more emphasis on civilian development aspects. “In this way we can also help the young generation of Afghans, which despite numerous difficulties has not lost the faith in a better and brighter life. Let us all continue with the efforts to help them realise their dreams,” he said.

The exhibition was organised to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence. NATO’s Secretary General congratulated Slovenia on its anniversary and thanked the Ambassador for his country’s valuable contribution to NATO’s mission in Afghanistan.