Photo Gallery (click link to view photos)
Helena addresses the Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan - July 3, 2007
Helena visits Afghanistan - April 2, 2007
Views from the Hill (Click link to read articles)
Afghanistan - April 24, 2007
Why we are in Afghanistan - April 10, 2007
Canada playing an important role in Afghanistan - March 13, 2007
Important Links 
Buying a Scarf makes a difference
I am honoured to know Khorshied Samad, the wife of Afghanistan's Ambassador to Canada. She is an incredible woman devoted to helping her nation rebuild and become self-sustainable. She is one of the driving driving forces behind a special initiative called the "ArteZan Designs Project", which is sponsored by a non-profit organization called Artists for Afghanistan Foundation (AFAF).
This project helps women in Kabul, Afghanistan gain financial security by weaving stunningly beautiful silk scarves.
Under the years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women's rights were virtually non-existend and women were banned from working and banned from attending school. As a result, the tradition of weaving silk scarves/shawls was slowly being lost.
To remedy this loss of culture and to give women, many of them widows a chance to support themselves and their families, the Foundation set up a small operation in Kabul where women are again being taught how to hand-weave the shawls and scarves on looms.
The shawls are made from 100% pure silk from the ancient city of Herat and are dyed using natural vegetable dyes.
Click here for an article about Mrs. Samad, from the National Post, October 28, 2006. It is remarkable - I encourage you to read it.
Thank you,
Hon. Helena Guergis, P.C., M.P.
For more information, visit www.artezandesigns.com
