Read at : Google Alert - desertification
http://newsblaze.com/story/20080428072757tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html
UN Gardening Scheme Provides Fresh Start for Afghan Women, Ex-Combatants
by Judyth Piazza
A United Nations gardening and literacy project for Afghan women and ex-combatants seeks to pave the way to peace and prosperity in the war-torn nation. Aimed at reversing environmental damage wrought by decades of conflict, uncontrolled grazing and illegal logging, the Green Afghanistan Initiative (GAIN) - run by six UN agencies, led by the World Food Programme (WFP) - will give participants the chance to make a fresh start through literacy classes and setting up their own nurseries to generate an income.
“These nurseries are making a huge difference to the lives of ordinary Afghan people and also to our environment,” said Obaidulla Ghafouri, the programme’s coordinator, at the GAIN’s Heart centre, noting that rural communities and farmers’ livelihoods have been impacted by deforestation. He noted that the nurseries provide regular jobs for ex-combatants and also for women, who can support their families with income earned while attending literacy classes.
(continued)
Source: United Nations
———————————–
ReliefWeb (press release) - Geneva,Switzerland
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EGUA-7E5LCQ?OpenDocument
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EGUA-7E5LCQ%3FOpenDocument
Categories:
