AINA (organization)
Encyclopedia
Aina's actions are based on Education
, information
and communication
.
Its goal is to strengthen civil society
through education of children and women,and training in communication and information skills.
In 2001, National Geographic Fellow and world-renowned photojournalist Reza Deghati
founded Aina to educate and empower Afghan women and children in the use of media
, communication and information. Reza believed these skills could contribute to the building of a free and open society
by supporting sustainable development
, promoting human rights
, and strengthening national unity. Since its inception, Aina has had a significant impact on civil society in Afghanistan
. Over 1,000 women and men have been trained in media and communication skills, with more than 90% now employed using these skills. Eight publications have been produced and are in circulation, including two women’s magazines and one children’s magazine, Parvaz
. In addition, the first documentary
by an all-female production team, produced by Aina, was nominated for an Emmy Award
in 2005.
. In this way, and through the training and cultural learning it provides, Aina contributes to Afghan education and promotes a spirit of peace and freedom, the very foundation of democracy
. Aina’s cross-disciplinary training program is based on new technologies, introducing participants to the electronic age. It is mainly intended for women and children, whose development has long been neglected in Afghan society. .
, was launched in August 2002 in Kabul
- with the cooperation of major educational institutions and foundations. Parvaz will be reproduced in other parts of the developing world using a name suitable to each country and culture.
The concept of Parvaz is to be a high-quality, full-color magazine
, aimed at becoming the publication of reference for children in developing countries, as well as an educational support tool for teachers and family
The magazine has been defined around the concepts of creativity, color and friendship. The magazine strives for an equality of the right to knowledge across cultures, generations and genders. Parvaz is a window on the world for children who have grown up in war and poverty. By introducing them to other cultures, ways of life and beliefs, it promotes tolerance. The adults of tomorrow will thus communicate with mutual respect and understanding- instead of violence and fear.
The content of Parvaz Afghanistan is designed and produced in Kabul by an all Afghan team of journalists, writers, illustrators and photographers who were trained at Aina.
Parvaz covers a wide variety of subjects: sciences, geography, music, nature, sports, games, Afghan traditions, history, religion, technology, folk tales and stories.
Through text, illustrations, photos, exploded diagrams and educational cartoons, Parvaz helps children develop their imagination, their passion for reading, and their ability to observe and analyse.
Parvaz is distributed through the networks of most of the national and international organizations that work with children and within education in Afghanistan, including the Ministry of Education.
Each edition of 40,000 copies is read and shared by 500,000 children all over Afghanistan.
Thirteen issues have been produced and distributed in Afghanistan.
A version of Parvaz - called Yuti - was launched in Sri Lanka in response to the devastation of the tsunami in 2006.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
and communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
.
Its goal is to strengthen civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
through education of children and women,and training in communication and information skills.
In 2001, National Geographic Fellow and world-renowned photojournalist Reza Deghati
Reza Deghati
Reza Deghati, born 1952 in Tabriz, Iran is an Iranian-French photojournalist, who works under the name Reza .-Biography:Reza has covered much of the globe for National Geographic Magazine. Several films about Reza's work have been produced by National Geographic Television, most notably Frontline...
founded Aina to educate and empower Afghan women and children in the use of media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, communication and information. Reza believed these skills could contribute to the building of a free and open society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
by supporting sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
, promoting human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, and strengthening national unity. Since its inception, Aina has had a significant impact on civil society in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Over 1,000 women and men have been trained in media and communication skills, with more than 90% now employed using these skills. Eight publications have been produced and are in circulation, including two women’s magazines and one children’s magazine, Parvaz
Parvaz
-External links:*...
. In addition, the first documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
by an all-female production team, produced by Aina, was nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in 2005.
Education
Aina supports the development of media and cultural structures and the production of educational material in a country undergoing reconstructionEconomic reconstruction
Economic Reconstruction refers to a process for creating a proactive vision of economic change. The most basic idea is that problems in the economy such as deindustrialization, environmental decay, outsourcing, industrial incompetence, poverty and addiction to a permanent war economy are based on...
. In this way, and through the training and cultural learning it provides, Aina contributes to Afghan education and promotes a spirit of peace and freedom, the very foundation of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. Aina’s cross-disciplinary training program is based on new technologies, introducing participants to the electronic age. It is mainly intended for women and children, whose development has long been neglected in Afghan society. .
Information
Aina supports and develops cultural projects and independent local media, all critical tools to rebuild civil society, and also works to establish media and cultural centers.Communication
Training in new communication technologies is aimed at speeding up the emergence of local Afghan media structures necessary for the nation to join the information and communication society of the 21st century. Aina helps disseminate educational and peace-promoting messages that foster the creation of a civil society by involving local people in carrying out large-scale communication campaigns.Parvaz : Window on the World - The magazine of children who dream big
Parvaz, the first and only children’s magazine in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, was launched in August 2002 in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
- with the cooperation of major educational institutions and foundations. Parvaz will be reproduced in other parts of the developing world using a name suitable to each country and culture.
The concept of Parvaz is to be a high-quality, full-color magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, aimed at becoming the publication of reference for children in developing countries, as well as an educational support tool for teachers and family
The magazine has been defined around the concepts of creativity, color and friendship. The magazine strives for an equality of the right to knowledge across cultures, generations and genders. Parvaz is a window on the world for children who have grown up in war and poverty. By introducing them to other cultures, ways of life and beliefs, it promotes tolerance. The adults of tomorrow will thus communicate with mutual respect and understanding- instead of violence and fear.
The content of Parvaz Afghanistan is designed and produced in Kabul by an all Afghan team of journalists, writers, illustrators and photographers who were trained at Aina.
Parvaz covers a wide variety of subjects: sciences, geography, music, nature, sports, games, Afghan traditions, history, religion, technology, folk tales and stories.
Through text, illustrations, photos, exploded diagrams and educational cartoons, Parvaz helps children develop their imagination, their passion for reading, and their ability to observe and analyse.
Parvaz is distributed through the networks of most of the national and international organizations that work with children and within education in Afghanistan, including the Ministry of Education.
Each edition of 40,000 copies is read and shared by 500,000 children all over Afghanistan.
Thirteen issues have been produced and distributed in Afghanistan.
A version of Parvaz - called Yuti - was launched in Sri Lanka in response to the devastation of the tsunami in 2006.