Cultural Activities

The cultural activities of the High Cultural Council of the foundation can be divided into four sections, publications, audio contents, visual contents, and public services.

Publications by the foundation are of two types including regular and irregular (books and articles):

  1. Regular Publications (temporary magazines): In order to compile viewpoints and thoughts of Massoud, and for his commemoration and provision of insight on the struggles and performances of the people of Afghanistan during the Jihad period,

    , the Foundation began to publish a magazine entitled “Yad-e-Yar”. The magazine that used to be published every quarter was distributed to cultural and social institutions, and other interested bodies for free. The magazine was printed in three volumes, and the first one was published in fifty issues during the period from June 2003 (Jawza 1382) to the year 2013 (1392).

    In addition to the Yad-e-Yar quarterly, another magazine that focused more on issues related to families, adolescents, and youth was also developed, and mostly covered topics from psychological standpoints adjusted to norms of Afghan community and aimed at resolving current social issues. This magazine was entitled “Baran” and was printed on a monthly basis, and too distributed for free to people and institutions.

  2. Irregular Publications (books and articles): This initiative aims to help the cultural community and writers of Afghanistan who cannot afford to print and publish their most valuable pieces. Massoud Foundation has so far supported print and publication of more than 100 books of different authors covering different topics such as history, religion, thought, society, politics, literature (mementos, poems, and stories), and memories to name but few. These contents included but not limited to We and Pakistan, Years of Invasion and Resistance and a Delusive Morning, by Mohammad Akram Andishmand; Highlighting the Work of Massoud, by Hafizullah Mansoor; Massoud: An Intimate Portrait of the Legendary Afghan Leader, by Marcela Grad, translate by Zohra Zaheer; Four Years with Ahmad Shah Massoud, by Dr. Sayed Azizurahman Safawi;  Ahmad Shah Massoud: The Martyr of Peace and Freedom, by Mujiburahman Rahimi; The Deadlock, by Ahmad Zia Rafat; From This Viewpoint, by Mohammad Mohiq; Pines Are Still There, by Mohammad Zahir Rustami; Toward Success, by Hamid Elmi; Near and Around the Commander, by Fahim Dashti; and The Candle Land, by Shamriz.

 

  1. Conferences and Seminars: Convening conferences and seminars in honor of historical, religious, and social occasions are part of the Foundation’s cultural programs and activities.
  2. Establishment of Libraries: Establishment of public libraries in Kabul and other provinces is one of the most important programs by the foundation because it is necessary to provide such facilities, especially a calm environment, for the young talents to flourish.
  3. Art Exhibitions, and Quran and Academic Competition: Another part of the Foundation’s cultural programs is to convene exhibitions on the artwork, Quran, and academic competition.
  4. Audiovisual Contents: Under this section, photos and other contents, especially videos of Massoud, from the Jihad and Resistance period, are compiled and disseminated.
  5.  Print and Publication of Brochures, Billboards, and Banners: In order to further amplify Massoud’s thoughts and works, hundreds of brochures, billboards, and banners designed with Massoud’s pictures, messages, and sayings addressing problems and social issues were prepared and published.

 

Since its inception in 2006, the health section of the Massoud Foundation aims to provide healthcare services by running fixed and mobile clinics. Having 80 staff across seven provinces such as Ghazni, Paktika, Khost, Paktia, Parwan, Nangarhar, and Kabul, the Foundation provides healthcare services to patients in need, help the victims during hard winters, and conduct medical checkups of poor elements of the communities. Services that have benefited a big number of local people in different provinces include vaccination, healthcare services to mothers and children, training on health issues, and more.

This section of the Foundation operates in 13 provinces across Afghanistan. The activities under this section include training courses on science, social studies, mathematics, English language, and computer. Different courses have been delivered to beneficiaries across several provinces. Besides these courses, the foundation has established a kindergarten in Parwan province, and two schools, named Rastagaran, and a girls’ high school, Australia-Afghan Muslims Girls Private School, in Kabul. The private school which was established in 2007 (1386) by the financial support of the Foundation, has 50 orphans from one of a public nursery who are trained and provided with school uniforms, textbooks, and stationery for free. In addition, many other students who cannot afford the tuition get free education at this school.

Massoud Foundation has always provided humanitarian assistance, both in the form of cash and commodities, to the victims of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and avalanches. These include but not limited to assistance provided to the victims of flood in Tagab, Wardooj, and Baharak districts of Badakhshan, and Rakha district of Panjshir provinces. The Foundation has also provided food packages on different occasions to poor families across different provinces. Besides other social activities, capacity building seminars for teachers and training of braille writing have been also part of the services.

The Foundation has been also working in providing sports opportunities for the youth in different provinces. Some of the initiatives in this regard are facilitation of tournaments and sending sports teams for competitions within the country and abroad.

Besides other sections, the Foundation’s construction work and services also began from the initial years of its establishment. The main project implemented is the construction of a cultural and touristic site in the burial place of Martyr Ahmad Shah Massoud. The project, which was launched in 2008, has completed recently.

The aforementioned site includes the tomb, a conference hall, accommodation for visitors, Jihad museum, a library, a mosque, and a parking lot.

The total budget spent was approximately 8 million US dollars supported by the foundation, and during the past two years, some of the country fellows too contributed financially. The implementing partner of the project is the Green Climate Expansion Company (Eqlimi Tawsa-e-Sabz).