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Afghanistan experience shared

Phedra Moon Morris, a Salmon Arm Secondary grad, gave students a global perspective as she recently returned from a tour of duty
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Phedra Moon Morris in Afghnaistan.

Phedra Moon Morris, a Salmon Arm Secondary grad, gave students a global perspective as she recently returned from a tour of duty helping coordinate aid efforts in Afghanistan.

SAS students at Sullivan campus listened to the presentation Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Morris was in charge of aid in the Canadian government’s development program in Afghanistan. She spoke to students of English, History and Comparative Civilizations classes about the challenges and successes of Canada’s aid efforts.

“Afghanistan remains one of the priority countries for Canada’s aid. so approximately $100 million in aid is delivered in Afghanistan both through civil society organizations as well as working with the government on strengthening their systems,” Morris said.

Canada’s main areas of aid in Afghanistan are maternal, newborn and child health, primary education and women’s rights and engagement. They also provide humanitarian response to emergency situations, she said.

“For example when the Taliban has taken over a region and citizens flee that city and and area, we assist with supplies and emergency accommodations.”

The operations she managed were focused on areas such as Kabul, Kandahar and Bamyan where the Canadian government has strong partnerships with groups such as Unicef, Morris said.

She added many areas of the country are inaccessible to aid workers now that the Canadian Forces are no longer operating in the country.

“Afghaistan remains a country in conflict. There are substantial numbers of attacks in both cities and rural areas. The populace of Afghanistan remains in a very fragile environment in which people are unfortunately regularly attacked,” Morris said. Despite the dangers, there were enough security resources that the Canadian aid staff were never left vulnerable, she said.

Morris spent 26 months in Afghanistan, working with Canada’s ambassador to the country, Deborah Lyons, who was the only female ambassador in the country at the time.

“Canada has taken a strong stance in Afghanistan in putting women in management and senior positions, and it is unusual, but because of that Canada got recognized by the Afghan government and the international community for taking a stand on female empowerment and women’s equality,” Morris said.

The attention the Canadian diplomatic team gained has been used to promote women’s empowerment throughout the country.

Despite spending over two years in a different country, in many ways, Morris said culture shock was not a serious issue because she had a career which allowed her to travel and gave her experience with different cultural environments.

“I was fortunate not to experience severe culture shock, but there are things you have to remember to do and follow to have cultural sensitivity in a country that is hosting you. You are a visitor. You are a guest,” she said.

Morris said her upbringing in Salmon Arm contributed to her interest in public service.

“I’m incredibly fortunate to have grown up in a household where I was encouraged to see myself as a global citizen and that comes with responsibility. My family was very encouraging for me to go out in the world and contribute in different ways in countries that are not as fortunate as Canada.”

Despite the challenges faced by aid workers in Afghanistan, the work being done in the country is making a difference, particularly in education, a field in which Canada is the top donor, she said.

“In the time of the Taliban we had zero girls in school. Literally in the last decade Canada and other donors have seen eight million children in school of which half are girls.

“To go within a decade from zero to three million girls in school and in total eight million in school is something that Canadians should be very proud of.”

She sees the education of the next generation in Afghanistan as the cornerstone of rebuilding the war torn country.

For now, Morris is back in Canada working as a director in the recently-announced peace and stabilization unit in Ottawa, which is tasked with fostering peace in fragile and failed states.

She wants to go abroad and do similar work to that which she did in Afghanistan again when the opportunity arises.

 



Jim Elliot

About the Author: Jim Elliot

I’m a B.C. transplant here in Whitehorse at The News telling stories about the Yukon's people, environment, and culture.
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