Violence-ravaged Afghanistan is faced with the daunting task of ridding itself of a reputation as a war zone that harbours Taliban militants. Even the country's agriculture sector is known mainly for its poppy production.
Journalist and author Sarah Chayes is trying to cleanse the country of that dubious distinction and simultaneously jump-start it's economy. It is a daring venture into an industry not known to Afghans.
In 2005, Chayes founded a co-operative known as Arghand -- named after the city of Arghandab, where it is based. The soap-manufacturing operation is run out of her home and the tools are donated by the Canadian forces. The company makes hand-crafted specialty soaps from crops and herbs that are abundant in the local area.
"Everyone looks at this barren landscape and they can't imagine that there are really nice crops." Chayes said. "There's pomegranates, apricots and almonds"
The most valuable crop for Chayes is the pomegranate. The specialty fruit grows well in the local area but it is the findings of a recent study that have Chayes excited.
"University of Michigan Medical School comes out with this study, showing that pomegranate seed oil stimulates regeneration of the epidermis," Chayes said.
Not only is the soap lauded for its medicinal value, each bar is molded to look like a river-polished piece of local marble. The 125-gram bars sell for $7 each. Indeed, the products are so popular at North American retailers that Chayes cannot produce enough to keep the shelves filled.
Even though the company has yet to make a profit, Chayes hopes to makes it as successful as her other Afghan ventures. Before Arghand, she had teamed up with Quyam Karzai, the older brother of the Afghan president, to create an organization known as Afghans for Civil Society in Kandahar. The organization helped rebuild a village, launch a radio station, and establish a women's income generation project in the country.
Chayes came to Afghanistan as a reporter for a Paris-based radio service in 2002.
When confronted by the struggle of the Afghan people, she decided to leave reporting and took on the task of restructuring the society and bridging the gap between Afghanistan and the world.
"It seems to me the most important thing people who are a healthy and of active age can do is to figure out how to build bridges rather than build walls," she said.
Noolah, a former bodyguard who works with Chayes, supports her efforts.
"Knowledge is a far better weapon than guns. With this type of business skill, we can one day lift up the whole country," he said.
With a report from CTV's Steve Chao in Kandahar
