30 June 2010 - “Dar-e-Zindan” or the “Valley of the Jail”, one the highest valleys in Afghanistan’s northern region

At 2,700 metres above sea level the valley stretches throughout the province of Samangan, an isolated and seemingly forgotten place. Subject to extreme climates and frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, the province has a high poverty rate. Nothing grows on the sides of the arid hills, except dried-up grass, yellowing in the summer heat.

In this difficult and challenging environment the Ministries of Public Works and Rural Rehabilitation initiated in late 2007 the Rural Access Improvement Project, funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and with implementation support by United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The ambitious programme aims to provide year-round accessibility for the population to services and markets, thus reducing poverty and helping to stabilize overall security in the province.

To get the job done UNOPS has hired local workers, men and women, from shura communities.

Bibi Gul is 43-years-old. She has been working for UNOPS in Samangan for the last six months, along with her husband, Sadullah. While Sadullah breaks stones, Bibi Gul sorts the gravel, paves the roads, and opens flood passages—what some consider a man’s work, handled by a woman.

“I had seven children and couldn’t afford their expenses,” says Bibi Gul. “I had to sell two of them to someone who could take care of them. Another son of mine has left the country to look for work. I don’t know where he is,” she continues, as she stares into space.

Working on the construction site was her only option. The same for her husband who is unqualified even in farming.

“Our economic conditions were disastrous before this project, “explains Bibi Gul. “I was weaving woolen string. Our current salary (US $5 for every cubic metre of gravel produced) is very low, but it is still better than nothing.”

A few metres away, Sadullah, who has a shovel in his hand, encourages his wife. “The most important thing is to produce more cubic metres of gravel and to get more income,” he says.

And what about working with women?

“It is not a problem”, he responds. “We work together and we don’t even see the difference. The most important thing is to produce as much as we can,” he adds.

Bibi Gul feels the same. Working with men is just normal for her.

“Sometimes people in the village laugh when they see us taking women to work in the field,” adds Sadullah. “But I don’t care, because Sharia (Islamic law) fully supports everyone who works with honesty and wisdom. I am proud of what we’re doing.”

This pride is also shared by his wife, Bibi Gul. Despite the difficult working conditions, she fully understands the vision of the project.

“This road improvement has given us much better access to the city. In the past, sick people frequently died on their way to the clinic as we had to travel by mules, for many hours. Now we can go by car. It makes all the difference.”
At last, a discreet smile appears on Bibi Gul’s face.

The project is to continue until December 2010.

“To be honest, I don’t know what I am going to do after this project. We’ll see,” Bibi Gul concludes.

Maybe the newly improved accessibility to the province will bring her a new work opportunities, by linking the “Valley of the Jail” to the rest of the world.

By Alexandre Brecher-Dolivet, UNAMA