Hair stories

The Wall Street Journal reported last month on a training program for Afghan businesswomen that brought one woman who runs a small beauty salon in Mazar i-Sharif to see how a top of the line salon in New York operates. The article does a nice job of showing the value of the visit from a business point of view (and fortunately it rather admires the work of the Afghan woman, when it could easily have sneered at the whole idea). It also gives a nice overview of professional exchange programs, complete with interpreters (not translators, WSJ), cultural activities, interaction with Americans, and the big hope, that "with her skills ... she'll make a difference in the lives of these women in Afghanistan."

One thing is certain: this story seems far more Afghan-focused, even though it takes place in New York, then the story of the Kabul Beauty School, run by an American. Somehow, though both are about training, respecting the talents of an Afghan and providing her with some opportunities is a much more successful approach than setting up a permanent aid station in the form of a for-profit business. (Photo from the NYT article.)