Afghan Teenager Finds Work Improving His Community Through Cash-for-Work Initiative

Masood, 19, Herat Province

“Before working on this project, we were in great trouble because of unemployment. We have physical fitness and really enjoy working, but there was no work to do.”

Masood, 19, lives in the Herat province and works to support his family when opportunities are available. Afghanistan’s current economic situation has forced him to seek out work in other countries twice already—an endeavor that is filled with significant risk and uncertainty. He had planned to make another journey away from his family to find work again before Uplift and our local Afghan partner, Community Driven Development Organization (CDDO), came to Masood’s village with a project to construct a retaining wall and rehabilitate an irrigation canal for the community. 

The project will help Masood’s community by protecting agricultural lands in the coming winter because in the past they’ve been inundated with floods without the protection of a retaining wall. The rehabilitated canal itself will also help support his village’s agricultural production, increasing self-sufficiency. 

Like most Afghan teenagers, Masood feels a sense of responsibility for his family’s well-being and is willing to travel to find work to support them. However, he wishes he didn’t have to be separated from them.

“I would like to live with my family and not have to go to other provinces and countries for work. Only good and continued employment can help us stay with our family members comfortably.”

To help support projects like this and keep teenagers like Masood with their families, click the visit upliftafghanistan.org/give.