"Our Beloved Afghanistan"
PARSA Board Member Mahbouba Seraj Launches "Our Beloved Afghanistan"
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Photographs and Story by Lizette Potgieter
Sixty-year-old Mahbouba Seraj, granddaughter of King Habibullah, launched her 40-episode radio program, "Our Beloved Afghanistan," in March on Radio Nava.
Seraj, currently Women’s Program Manager for Equal Access, an international NGO, which creates positive change in communities by providing information and education through targeted content and cost-effective technology, became inspired to start a talk show, because she loves to talk and tell stories.
"The guests on my show are Afghans who have come up with solutions for Afghanistan’s problems," says Seraj. "The conversations are fluid, unpretentious and people talk from their hearts."
Seraj kick-started her show with Afghanistan’s Mobil Mini Circus for Children, a group of young artists, she describes as "fearless." "In Afghanistan I often see a gap between planning and implementation," she says. "But at MMCC I see children blossoming with room to express themselves."
It is very important to Seraj that each of her 15-minute shows broadcasts a message of hope and belonging.
"I grew up prior to the Russian invasion," she says. "At that time, Afghanistan was a thriving new democracy. It seems that Afghans have forgotten their proud history and operate in post-war survival mode. The people I invite to be on my show are the ones who have regained their sense of ownership. Their message is: I belong to Afghanistan. What can I do to make it a better country?"
Seraj does not believe in running her show from her studio chair. She travels widely throughout Afghanistan to put her stories together. "I respect the Islamic religion and I respect Afghan culture. My listeners should realize that we did not grow up under a tomato plant."
October
1, 2009
