UNAMA Pic of the Day

On the Way to Work, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

Afghan de-miners on their way to work in the Surobi district of Kabul province.

This week the United Nations in Afghanistan is highlighting de-mining and mine awareness in the lead up to the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action which is marked on Saturday, 4 April.

Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, and more than four million Afghans are living in mine-contaminated areas.

According to the Ottawa Convention on landmines, Afghanistan must be completely cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) by 2013, and the Afghanistan Compact (launched in 2006) calls for 70 per cent of explosive-infested land to be cleared by 2011.

Photo by Jacob Simkin

The Boys in Light Blue

The Boys in Light Blue, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

Demining is a tough job
probably the longest job in the sun
searching for landmines and unexploded ordinances
but they do it with pride
to eliminate the hidden enemy

I am currently work on an exhibition
for Landmine Awareness Day
on April 4th

My photos will be at Barbur Gardens
but hopefully get a press release out too

The AliceGhan Project

The AliceGhan Project, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

My latest project that I will be working
is called the AliceGhan project
It is a resettlement development housing
out near Bagram Airbase
Hopefully I will be documenting the project over a year
following progress of several families living out there.

UNDP heads the project with very little finance from UNHCR
but they are interested in the documentary I am proposing
Currently I am seeking to live out on the site for several weeks
to gain the trust of the community and hear out their stories and their struggles in rebuilding their future and stories.

Ian Holland, the Deputy Country Director bought this photo
to put up at UNDP Office to help promote the project
and have their works publicized in the Office. He plans to buy more photos and place them up which helps their profile but also gives me confidence.

It is a great feeling because my photos replaces Reza's, a rather famous National Geographic photographer. I know my photography have a long way to go but it has inspired me to be better at it.

One Year in the Stan

It has been One year in the Stan
accomplished not so much but people know who I am
and the good photos I do
the crazy adventures I have had
Have a nice new camera
and hunting for good projects
Need to learn more Farsi
Might actually get a teacher then keeping the Farsi dictionary in my pocket
Maybe one more year of this and maybe a break
Go somewhere different or go back home.
Adventure is all mine.

One Laptop Per Child Launch

laptopkids_73, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

Mike Dawson from Paiwastoon, a Information Technology NGO in Afghanistan helped launched the "One Laptop per Child", a USAID funded programme giving away cheap Child friendly laptops to kids at the Estiqal School in Jalalabad to help promote education amongst children in Afghanistan. The laptops are under two hundred dollars, robust and even in Dari and Pashto, the main language in Afghanistan. Kids can surf the internet, take photos, do chat, learn languages and write stories to help promote better education and living within a highly uneducated society.

The Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children

The Afghan Mini Circus for Children, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

I got the pleasure to hang out with the Mobile Mini Circus for Children
meet an 11yr old, Hassina and talk about Afghanistan and being 11
and see their performances in Afghanistan

It was great
I admired David Mason for setting it up over 7 years ago
and making it his life
to help benefit disadvantaged children
either orphans or street kids

The kids love it
despite it is the holidays
they want to continue training and helping to repaint the school

If you want to know more
http://afghanmmcc.org
I think I will volunteer more and help the children get noticed
for the work they do

The Girl who silenced the UN for Six Minutes

This is a video of Severn Suzuki, daughter of David Suzuki who founded ECO, Environmental Children's Organization to bound together and make a difference to the environment. This was in 1992 but almost 20 years we must take note and help make a difference in our lives and environment.

the swell season

the swell season, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

my favourite album at the moment
highly reflective album that makes you think about relationships
present and past

Maybe I am quite sentimental
but music always is reflective time for me
A great album to buy if you see it

Dancing to El Guincho

Dancing to El Guincho, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

El Guincho's "Alegranza" is one of the most
"stop what you are doing and boogie on the bed"
albums ever made

I booked one night at the Lilat hotel
just to relax and have some sort of
creature comforts of back home.

It felt great
I miss home alot.

Silver Cloud

Silver Cloud, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

I went to India
to help give space
but also to pray
pray for better days

at times I feel lost
wanting to head home
i love being here
I love being in love
but all these things
seem so weak right now
and I am not sure of what I want

i wrote myself a prayer
it goes:

Illuminate my life
like that of the brightest star
in my darkest hour

Know that a love so strong
will never break
though temptation
may crack this shell

Forgive me so that all may be mended
Release me so I may follow
the path which is in my heart.

Music Basti

Music Basti, originally uploaded by Mild Seven Lights.

I visited my friend Faith's project in India called Music Basti ran by the YP (Youth Parliment) Foundation, where musicians come to meet alot of street kids to sing songs. Chaotic with lots of kids on different tangents, they finally got together to sing in harmony and slowly behave themselves.