20 – 22 February 2012

CAPS senior team, led by the CAPS Director, Mr. Hekmat Khalil Karzai, visited LashkarGah city, in Helmand province on20 to 22 February 2012. The visit was aimed at evaluating the progress of CAPS’ Youth Peace Movement and Empowerment Centre (YPMEC) and also engaging in outreach activities with youth, tribal elders and influential figures alike.
YPMEC offers educational programs such as Concord preparation, Computer and English language courses for youth in the province. YPMEC has thus far been been providing education in the aforementioned areas for 800 male and 250 female students beginning in August 2011.
CAPS director, Mr. Hekmat Karzai met with YPMEC students, and inquired about their learning experiences at YPMEC and noted their feedback and suggestions to improve YPMEC’s services so to ensure that students receive the highest possible learning experince. CAPS visiting team also held meetings with YPMEC’s staff to discuss the students’ progress and suggestions regarding how to materialize some of the important suggestions. As requested by the students, Mr. Karzai and the CAPS team approved the establishment of a library equipped with internet and a Science Laboratory for the Concord students to enable them to carry out various science experiments with their teachers.

During the 3 day visit, the CAPS team with the assistance of YPMEC’s management arranged a Honoring Ceremony to celebrate the achievement of YPMEC’s extrodinary faculty and top achievieng students. Other participants of the event included Provincial Governor of Helmand, heads of government departments, the Danish Civilian Representative to Helmand, tribal elders and parents of the students. The event, saw Mr. Karzai award both YPMEC staff and students for their achievements and promised to bring further educational facilities in support of youth in Helmand. He encouraged students to concentrate on their education and said, “I promise that I will fulfill yourneeds but also want you to promise me that you will study and learn more and more.”

During the visit, Mr. Hekmat Karzai and the CAPS team participated in various social outreach activities with tribal elders and other notables in Helmand discussing various issues and challenges that existed in the province. Mr. Karzai met with Helmand Advisory Council of Reforms, Helmand Mujahedeen Council and other tribal elders who requested him to promote Helmand youth and to help show to the world that Helmand strived for peace, stability and education. CAPS stressed to all notable bodies met of its endeavor to work towards promoting  education and peace building and doing all it can to achieve progress in these twospheres.

The tribal elders expressed great satisfaction with CAPS and its YPMEC initiativeand expressed their satisfaction with the centre’s achievements and pledged their support to expand its activities to the district level so youth from all areas could benefit from the educational services offered themto the extent possible.