Afghanistan

The people and setting of “The Breadwinner”

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The black represents the dark, troubled past of the country

The red represents the blood shed by those who fought for the countries independence

The green represents both Islam and prosperity

The emblem of Afghanistan features a mosque, wheat, and an inscription of an Islamic oath

Where is Afghanistan located?

• Afghanistan’s official name is…

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

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• It is located in the continent of Asia

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• Pakistan is to the South, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are to the north

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• The Capital city of Afghanistan is ?????

Landscape & Climate

• Tall mountains and dry desert cover most of Afghanistan. There are high mountain peaks and are covered in snow most of the time

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• Most afghan people live in the valleys where there is lush grass and trees

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• Only 20 percent of the land is used for farming

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• Summers are hot and dry and the winters are very cold

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• The water from the melting snow never reaches the ocean though because Afghanistan is land locked

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Language and Population

Population: 39 million (2023 estimate)

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Official languages: Pashtu & Dari

�Note: there are more than 30 languages spoken in Afghanistan

Afghanistan Games

Kite Fighting

- A dangerous game trying to be the last one with your kite in the air. The strings of the kite are covered in glue and glass to cut down other peoples kites.

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Egg Fighting

- A game trying to crack your opponents egg

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Soccer

- There is a women's and men's national team

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Buzkashi

- carrying the corpse of a goat on horseback. The winner is the one to cross the finish line with the goat in hand

Cultural and Traditional Clothing

Traditional Foods

-Tea is the favorite Afghan drink

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• Afghanistan traditional food usually consists of rice, naan bread, lamb, onion, raisins, chicken, pistachios, pomegranates, grapes, melons

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• Common spices include saffron, dill and mint

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• A popular meal is palau, made from rice, sheep and goat meats, and fruit.

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- Usually people eat on a cushion on top of a colorful carpet on the floor

Life in Afghanistan

Statistics

• 1 in 18 Afghanistan children don’t reach the age of one

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• More than 50% of girls are married or engaged by 12 years old. 60% of girls are married before their 16^th birthday

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• 2 in 5 children cannot reach full mental or physical development

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• 1 in 4 children are underweight

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• Almost 50% of water sources are contaminated with fecal matter

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• Only 19% of girls under 15 can read or write, most are not allowed to go to school

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• Life expectancy for women is 51 years

Life in Afghanistan continued…

Girls and boys are often treated differently in Afghanistan

• Girls usually stay home and cook, clean or take care of siblings
• Boys usually go to school or when they’re older work in the fields or in a job to provide for the family

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In some families, women and girls cannot leave their homes without a male escort and men are expected to grow beards

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- Most families live in poverty

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The Taliban

• The Taliban began in the early 1990’s in northern Pakistan

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• They promised to take power from foreign forces and restore peace using their own form of Islamic Law

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• By 1998, the Taliban were in control of 90% of Afghanistan

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• At first they were welcomed but their strict leadership scared many
• Used public executions to warn Afghani people not to break the law

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• Used amputations to punish theft

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• Men had to grow beards and women had to cover their entire body

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• Banned television, music, movies

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• Disapproved of girls over 10 going to school

The Taliban continued…

• They are responsible for the terrorist attack on September 11^th, 2001 in New York, USA

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• The Taliban were pushed down by foreign armies but never completely disappeared

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2021

• President Joe Biden announced in April 2021 that all American forces would leave the country by September, 2021
• The Taliban took the opportunity and in only 10 days, they took control of Afghanistan again
• Many Afghanistan people and women tried to leave by fleeing the country but many were unable to
• Women in particular are scared of what this might do to their life once again

Malala Yousafzai

• Born in Pakistan

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• Was shot in the head by the Taliban for trying to go to school

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• She survived and is a spokesperson today against the Taliban

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