Beyond the 11Th Incorporated

Beyond the 11th made a $50,000 grant for the building of the first women's community center in Afghanistan.

The plaster is just about dry enough for paint in the rooms of the Dragon Valley Community Center, and Program Director, Razia Jan, is considering colors to play off the startling blue sky and saffron sand and stone. But when the facility in Bamyan is completed, it will be much more than just solid, pleasing architecture.
 
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony later this fall, Arzu rug weavers will be able to gather in a striking, multi-storied weaving
atelier to collaborate on large rugs and train young weavers. In the classroom, in addition to literacy and health-related classes
already at the core of Arzu programming, coursework will begin for women from throughout the village on hygiene, poultry raising, soil enhancement and small-scale agriculture, setting the stage for future programs. Ultimately, some of these new programs will be hosted at the nearby Community Garden Center, the second of three facilities to be built in Dragon Valley. Arzu broke ground on the second facility two weeks ago. This fall, the project team hopes to complete the surrounding wall and a greenhouse at the Garden Center. In the spring, construction of a Sports Center will also begin.
 
A centerpiece of the trio of new buildings in the village, The Dragon Valley Community Center will be lit and heated, at least in large part, with energy harnessed by solar panels. The system will be installed this fall. As a back-up heating source, stoves that burn briquettes, which will also be made at the Garden Center using organic and recycled materials, will be installed as needed. The
briquette-making project, which will be a partnership with Kabul-based nonprofit Afghans 4 Tomorrow, will begin at the Garden Center in the spring, but the first stage of training for this enterprise will take place at the Community Center during the winter months.
 
The potential for this clean, safe Community Center, has local residents and the entire Arzu staff very excited. Even the tea room will not just be a place of rest for the women who visit to wash dishes and clothing, to weave or to receive training, but it will be a place to learn how to run a restaurant. Young women will manage this small-scale business selling tea and small baked goods. Once the center is in full use, there is also potential to begin a small baking program in house.