CARE Marks Afghan New Year with New Move, New Logo

CARE
Thursday, 21 March 2002

CARE is marking the Afghan New Year, Nuwroz, with the official return of its main office from Peshawar, Pakistan, to Kabul, and the unveiling of a new logo. CARE is the first large international organization to return its main office to Afghanistan from Pakistan. The move represents CARE's renewed hopes for peace and security in Afghanistan after 23 years of conflict.

"Today is a new beginning for CARE in Afghanistan, and a fresh starting point for the country's journey towards peace, social justice and political stability," said Paul Barker, CARE's country director for Afghanistan. "We are confident that the move will give CARE an even greater level of coordination and impact."

Abdul Rashid Janbez, representing the municipality of Kabul, called the move "a right step," and "fortunate in the eyes of the interim administration. We hope that other humanitarian agencies follow the example of CARE and help the needy people of Afghanistan," he said.

These hopes are illustrated by CARE's new logo, a "community of hands," unveiled during a New Year ceremony attended by more than 300 staff members and guests.

"The new logo symbolizes our commitment to work with Afghan communities to end poverty," added Barker.

"In this New Year, we hope that all Afghans, especially women and children, will secure their basic rights -- food, clean drinking water, basic education and economic opportunity, as well as personal security and the ability to participate in the decisions that affect their lives," added Nazhand, Afghanistan country representative for CARE.

About CARE

CARE, one of the world's largest international humanitarian organizations, helps communities achieve lasting solutions to poverty. CARE started operations in Afghanistan in 1961, and is supplying clean water for approximately 440,000 people in Kabul, in addition to providing food and health and vocational training to 10,000 widows and their families. In southeast Afghanistan, CARE supports the education of 20,000 pupils in rural communities, 43 percent of whom are girls. CARE is seeking resources with which to triple the size of its programs in order to further assist the Afghan people with rebuilding their country.

For more information, or to contact CARE, see their website at: www.care.org