Afghanistan: first training course for the disabled

On 31 August the ICRC launched a training programme for the disabled, complementing its traditional humanitarian assistance. This programme is the result of cooperation between its prosthetic centre and its agricultural rehabilitation team in Kabul. 

The basic idea is to give disabled young people without any family support an opportunity to learn marketable skills. Twenty candidates who fit this profile were selected by the ICRC centre in Kabul for an initial course in agricultural techniques, such as the grafting and pruning of fruit trees.

This month-long course is split into two parts: one week of theory and three weeks of practical training at the ICRC's tree nursery in Bagram, situated about 60 km north of Kabul and comprising a million fruit trees.

The trainees are not paid but will each receive 6 kg of wheat flour at the end of their course. Although the ICRC will not provide them with employment, they should have no trouble finding a job since specialists in the grafting and pruning of fruit trees are in high demand. The ICRC also hopes that some of those who have completed the course will pass on their know-how to others throughout Afghanist an.

The initial cost of the training, which is given by four local employees from the ICRC agricultural rehabilitation team, is 8 million afghanis (about 600 US dollars).