Today, Afghanistan at war, is a hot topic across all media throughout the world. The U.S., in particular, is focused on Afghanistan as it expands its military involvement.

Yet, there is another Afghanistan: the Afghanistan of young leaders who want peace. These young leaders do not receive the media attention to broadcast their message for a new Afghanistan. An Afghanistan where the guns and tanks are replaced with teachers, books and computers. An Afghanistan where tolerance and human rights replace the hatred and violence so engrained in the children from birth.
With Between Light and Darkness, I aim at giving these young leaders an open multi-media channel for their voices to be heard across the international community. The documentary follows three young leaders, who work for a Non-Government Association NGO called PARSA (Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Support for Afghanistan), as they dedicate their lives to empower their people to become educated, economically self-sufficient, and champions of human rights.

Where so many teachers teach hatred, Yasin Farid, National Director of PARSA, teaches tolerance through education and leadership.

Palwasha Madomi, PARSA Economic Program Director, empowers widows to become self-sufficient through entrepreneurial initiatives.

Akmal Doudsay, Focusing Therapy Consultant for PARSA, conducts “Focusing Therapy” sessions to teachers, who, traumatized by 30 years of war, routinely beat their students into “learning.”

Their journey becomes personal, urgent – no longer mere televised images. Yet, their progress is very fragile; their voices unheard; their cries for a good education, ignored. When billions of dollars are poured into the war, the teachers are not properly trained to teach; the National Department of Finance has no computers; resources for women’s education are few.
Between Light and Darkness is the beginning of these leaders’ journey. I really wonder how they go on, day-in, day-out, working so hard to heal their country from this perpetual cycle of hatred and violence. What if they collapse from exhaustion, or even death? How long can they last without the support of the international community? For, if they fail, the world around them will never heal.
On my last day there, Yasin reveals his personal dream: in ten years, he will run for President to make his country a “guest house” for all. The birth of Yasin’s dream is the story I want to capture and share with the World-Wide-Web so all of us can find inspiration to make a difference – such is my personal dream.

Dr. Penelope Price
Writer-Director