Completed CRAA Projects

Agriculture: CRAA worked with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Care International to introduce improved varieties of wheat and maize seed to Afghanistan. This work involved technical assistance and included a "Grow and Give" component whereby those who received the improved seed would provide another family with seed after harvest the following year. 4,200 families in Nangarhar, Kabul, Laghman and Kunar Provinces participated in the program. (1990 - 1996).

Artificial Insemination: CRAA and Heifer Project International (HPI) worked in Kabul and Jalalabad, establishing a laboratory and collection plant that is used to systematically improve various positive traits suited such as milk production. (1998 - 1999).

Construction and Maintenance of the Mohamand Dara School in Nangarhar Province: Funded by CARITAS of Salerno, Italy in 1994, the Shahzada Foundation will continue to provide teacher salaries and school supplies until the Govt. of Afghanistan can assume responsibility.

Emergency Response: In response to an emergency, CRAA worked with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to distribute tent materials to 1,500 families during the winter of 1993 - 1994.

Food Preservation Training: A CRAA - HPI project centered upon income generation, for Afghans that were displaced, through training in food preservation (Milk, Fruit, Vegetables). This included training in producing value added products. Nangarhar and Kabul Provinces 1996 - 1997.

Fighting Tuberculosis: Funded by Anti-TB Association of Switzerland. We built and operated a TB hospital. We used the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and nutritional supplements to fight malnutrition and make TB treatment effective. The hospital was destroyed by fighting. (1990 - 1993).

Humane Treatment of Draft Animals: This program was aimed of addressing the health and Welfare of the draft equine i.e. horses, donkeys and mules that are the sole sources of income for many families. These animals are main sources of transportation particularly in the hilly areas of Afghanistan where vehicles are inaccessible. In some areas donkeys are also used to plough land. This project was started during February 2003 with one mobile unit at Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan with the financial support of Brooke Hospital for Animals (BHA), World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), American Zoological Association (AZA) and Committee for Rehabilitation Aid to Afghanistan (CRAA). This project was expanded to five units during 2005 and then to nine units during the year 2007, covering the areas of Nangarhar, Laghman, Kabul and Qundooz Provinces of Afghanistan. In addition to providing Veterinary services to the equine, their owners were educated in feeding, watering, grooming, hoof care, balancing of weight, providing rest at mid day in summer months to save them from heat stress, to be humane with their animals etc. Farriers were trained in farrying. Local saddlers were trained in saddles and harness repair and Community Animal Health Workers (CAHW) at each station were also trained for providing emergency treatment to the equine / camels. Euthanasia was done in donkeys, Mules and horses, which were incurable. Some compensation  was provided to the equine owner whose animals were put to euthanasia. The project was completed during 2007. During the project period 275,822 equine were treated against various contagious and non-contagious diseases. De-worming was done in 87,443 equine; tooth rasping was carried out in 18,042 equine. 30,732 equine owners were educated in different aspects. In addition to above 18,142 Camels were treated against different contagious, Infectious and non-contagious diseases. De-worming was done in 5,314 Camels and 1,729 Camel owners were educated in different aspect. (2003 - 2007).

Irrigation/Flood Control (1990 -1996) UNDP/OPS sponsored CRAA in aiding wheat farmers through the construction of flood control structures that protected farmers from all-too-frequent loss of their crops. As with most other projects, the beneficiaries worked along side, providing the necessary construction labor. Additionally, seed was provided on a Grow and Give basis. Approximately 1 million people in Nangarhar Province benefited from this work.

Illegal Crop Eradication through Community Development (1993-1994) The UNDP funded program was designed to address the illegal crops growing in the fields of Afghanistan. This was a multi-faceted approach for farmers attempting to stop cultivating poppies in crops. While assistance to these farmers may help, it is generally the very poor farmers who own small amounts of land who take up opium cultivation. This is because to support their families these poorer farmers cannot rely on lower prices of traditional crops. Unfortunately, this project was cancelled after only three months when the fund deemed the project area too dangerous for further operations. (Nangarhar Province)

Microcredit and Vocational Training for Disabled Persons and Orphans (Kabul and Nangarhar Provinces, 1996-1998) This project was sponsor by the Shahzada Foundation and ARCON. It included; credit component to support "Make and Give" programs that are a CRAA innovation.

Kareze Cleaning and Construction Karezes are an inventive way to deliver water from mountainous areas to farmland below. Essentially a tunnel, the job of traversing the tunnel while removing accumulated sand and debris is among the most dangerous jobs in Afghanistan. This program assisted 900 families rehabilitate the karezes that allowed them to grow crops. (1992 - 1993, Nangarhar Province)

Outpatient Clinic Continuation project with addition of an Outpatient clinic for the de-worming of women & children at our compound in Chaparhar, Nangarhar Province. The clinic remains open. (2000-2006)

Outpatient Workshop and Physiotherapy Services 1994-1996) This project was funded by the Shahzada Foundation. The Shahzada Foundaion is a private foundation representing the family lead by our CRAA executive director, Dr. Sanaul-Haq Ahmadza dedicated to the memory of his late father and mother. This project targeted the severely disable Afghan refugee camps located in Pakistan.

Poultry Farming Project From 1990 to 1991, CRAA worked with 2000 families to teach them how to raise and care for Fayoumi chickens (an imported variety that is particularly well suited for harsh conditions). It should be noted that the educational component of this program is needed. Traditional approaches to poultry cultivation are inefficient and fail to capture the many benefits that poultry can provide. The program targeted women who were about to return to their homes in Afghanistan after living many years in refugee camps. Training sessions also included education about child nutrition, marketing surplus eggs, and how to build a chicken coup.

Workshop on Clinical Diagnosis of Pregnancy in Cattle The UNDP funded this important workshop that was attended by more than 100 experienced Veterinarians. (Nangarhar Province, 1992)

Every aspect of the program exists for the purpose of helping people provide for themselves and their families via sustainable agricultural practices, improved nutrition, and the marketing of surplus produce and value-added products.

Agricultural CRAA implemented a program that was essentially the same in other areas within Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Kabul Provinces. The FAO and ISRA funded this work. (1990 - 1996)

Child Adoption program  in Afghan Refugees CARITAS of Salerno, Italy helped CRAA build provide for the daily needs and education of every needing children. (1998-2001)

District-based Veterinarian Programs We taught construction techniques and maintenance procedures while constructing veterinarian clinics. The program lasted four years (1990 - 1994) and the project was active in Kabul, Kapisa, Kunar, Logar, Nangarhar and Parwan Provinces. The funding source(s) was UNDP / OPS. Approximately 2 million people benefited from this work.

Fayoumi Poultry Project for Physically Challenged Women The American non-profit organization, International (HPI) from Little Rock, Arkansas helped CRAA provide starter flocks and training for handicapped living in the Nasir Bagh refugee camp outside Peshawar Pakistan. More than 1000 families benefited. (1995-96) HPI programs are known for the "Passing on the Gif" that multiplies the effectiveness of the original work and which is very effective in helping neighbors joining together to battle malnutrition, and extreme poverty and the invisible results of these factors high infant mortality rates.

Flood Control and Electrification The UNDP-sponsored this project helped 2,500 families harness hydropower to electrify their villages and power grinding mills. It also helped to rehabilitate traditional irrigation systems. The project was active in Kunar, Nangarhar and Kapisa provinces from 1993 until 1994.

Integrated Poultry & Community Health Project Funded by HPI, Shahzada Foundation & CRAA. This project trained and raise Poultry to improve family nutrition and generate cash, it included a human de-worming component, employing women doctors and provision of health services. (2000-2001)

Kareze Cleaning and Construction Karezes are an inventive way to deliver water from mountainous areas to farmland below. Essentially a tunnel, the job of traversing the tunnel while removing accumulated sand and debris is among the most dangerous jobs in Afghanistan. This program assisted 900 families rehabilitate the karezes that allowed them to grow crops. (1992 - 1993, Nangarhar Province)

Narcotics Awareness Programs We worked within communities to raise awareness of the dangers of illicit drug use and cultivation. This two-year program (1990-1992) was funded by UNDCP, and benefited nearly 1.2 Million people in Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar Provinces. The program was not merely educational. It provided direct aid to help people leave the drug economy by building small roads and bridges, repairing government buildings, constructing flood control structures and clearing landmines. As with all flood control projects, the work had the additional benefit of creating more arable land, reducing the need of those owning very small plots to grow opium.

Narcotics Awareness and Alternatives (1993-94) United Nations International Drug Control Program UNDCP) 1.5 million people in Kandahar and Hilmand Provinces were touched by this project which includes building roads and bridges, community centers, public institutions. A Seed distribution component Grow and Give component for sustainability. Agriculture education helped farmers move toward legal high value crops.

Orchard Development/Promotion/ Infrastructure / Rehabilitation (1992 -1994/FAO) Fruit trees, orchard tools, vegetable seeds and education were provided to villagers who provided labor to repair canals, schools, small roads, flood control structures and buildings damaged by war. 3000 families in Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman Provinces.

Poultry Distribution and Training to Widowed Women and Wives of the Disable (Nangarhar and Kabul Provinces 1996-1998) Sponsored by Heifer Project International was essentially the same as that described in number 21.

Reconstruction of a High School in Narang District Kunar Province (1993-1994, UNDCP) The work also included the addition of a water wells.

Reconstruction of a Middle School at Patang Kunar Province (1993-1994, UNDCP) The work also included the addition of a water well.

Repatriation Services CRAA worked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide comprehensive services aimed at helping Afghans return home after living in refugee camps in Pakistan. This large project included education and direct assistance for re-building homes that had been destroyed by war. The project provided direct food aid and farming tools to 5,000 families in Kunar, Kapisa, Nangarhar and Laghman Provinces. (1992 - 1994)

Training and Distribution of Poultry to Women. Shahzada Foundation, Individual donors, 1996-99. The project was similar to other HPI programs that involve education regarding the basics of caring for (farrr animal) nutrition and the marketing of surplus production CRAA help beneficiaries by assuring that animals are duly vaccinated prior to distribution as well as appropriate intervals  thereafter. After flocks and herds grow, veterinary services are provided on a sustainable basis by Village-Leve Veterinarians that we train and equip. (Chaparhar District, Nai Province)

Traditional Livestock & Reforestation for Communities (Kabul and Nangarhar Provinces, It was a large and multfaceted and viable project implemented with finacial and technical support of Heifer Project International (HPI).  The main objectives were to; Improve the project families nutrition by  intake of milk ,meat, eggs and fruits through the provisions of cows, goats, poultry and fruit saplings. Improve the soil fertility by the  use of animal and poultry manure and reduce the dependency on expensive commercial fertilizers.  Improve the environment by planting forests and fruits trees. Enable the devastated people to achieve economic self reliance and sustainability through the sale proceed of surplus livestock (calves, heifers, bucks and goats) milk, egg and poultry. The wood from forest trees could be used for the construction of their residences and fuel purpose for their household use. The surplus wood could be sold in the market to combat their household expense. They can also fetch handsome money from sale proceed of fruits from their orchards. It was a unique project in the principle of "passing of gift", whereby each participant commits to pass on and equivalent livestock gift plus training to another family, so that the original gift continues to multiply. Through  the initiation of the project 513 cow families, 507 goat families ( 2 goats to each family) and 14,467poultry families 9 2 cockerels+8 pullets) were directly benefited. In addition 136,400 forest ' fruits saplings were als distributed to the member farmers. We also completed the "pass of gift" 612 cow families,1,680 goat families and 14,467 poultry families. The number of these families is increasing with the passage of time. During the project period 73 persons were selected from the project area and were trained as Village Level Veterinarians (VLV's) by our technical staff. These VLV's were provided with emergency medicines and equipped with surgical box (VLV Kit) after the completion of their training. These VLV's are working in the project area and are carrying out periodical vaccination in livestock and poultry.