Students envisage brighter future for Afghans

The Canberra Times
15 June 2003
by Graham Cooke

STUDENTS from Kaleen Primary School have been among the first to respond to a national art and literature competition titled "What Future for Afghanistan?"

The competition, run from Canberra by Afghanistan's Cultural and Educational Centre, is aimed at school children and young adults. Entries opened in early April and close on September 5, but already hundreds of entries have been received at the embassy's office in Deakin.

Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal said some of the suggestions on how his country could tackle its problems were so interesting he had already sent them to Kabul for further analysis.

The centre's secretary, Helen Parrott, agreed.

"Sometimes an eight-year-old will see straight to the solution of a problem that eludes a lot of terribly intelligent people at a conference," Ms Parrott said.

"We welcome entries in art and literature that address the issues of Afghanistan's future."

The centre was established in an effort to rebuild the cultural and educational infrastructure of the country, areas which had suffered as most available funds were channelled into direct humanitarian aid for returning refugees.

Examples of Afghan art can be viewed on the embassy's web site: www.afghanembassy.net