ImproperUsername wrote:
My husband is managing a National Guard/university agricultural development team in Afghanistan. The region he is working in is somewhat calmer than other areas, because it is farm country and the farmers just want to take care of their families and be left alone. (To answer the obvious question, no that specific region is not poppy country.)

The farmers have some very ingenious methods for farming the narrow vallies between mountains, but their major problem is getting their products out to markets. They have been open and interested in whatever assistance my husband's team has to offer.

The team collected school supplies (ballpoint ink pens are regarded as awesome by the locals) and took them to the girls' school. They had female team members do that delivery, due to cultural considerations. The girls were as tickled and showed their appreciation with smiles, and would hold female soldiers by the hand. Across the street, little boys at the boys school looked envious at the attention and goodies the girls were getting, so there are plans to do the same thing for them.
HA, the first thing I thought of. What do they grow?


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