USAID/LGCD

The furniture for the Guzara Youth Association.

Guzara District, in particular the Zeyaratja Valley, remained non-permissive and under anti-government influence, with local youth being particularly affected by the instability.  The Guzara Youth Association is a nascent youth organization formed to serve as a link between young people and local level bodies of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA).  The association seeks to represent and articulate the interests of local youth.  The local community and GIRoA had supported In coordination with GIRoA, USAID’s Local Governance and Community Development project provided the Guzara Youth Association with furniture and office supplies including chairs, desks, tables, stationery items, carpet, and cupboards.  Abdul Rashid, Head of the Association, accepted the equipment on behalf of the organization at a ceremony held on December 27.  Equipping the Youth Association is a step towards helping the organization present itself in a professional manner. During the ceremony, Abdul Rashid recalled, “We began our work unofficially in Ziaratja School three months ago without any resources or facilities.  The community did not take us seriously.”  He continued, “This equipment will help us to better organize and gives us a professional venue to conduct business allowing us to reach out to more youth and organize more activities in Guzara.”

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights Double Issue; 12/15/10-1/15/11