After the dilapidated condition of Afghanistan, which was the aftermath of war the province was left with a barren land where all hopes and aspirations of the people were buried deep into the gravel.
Native women in drought hit Zabul province have tried to infuse life in the dead, desolate land. They are planting rows of saplings, weeding and watering them at the cost of their personal safety.
Some 90 women who raise them are getting 61 kilograms of oil, wheat, pulses, and salt a month as part of a food for work program, on which most of the families depend.
For some, lessons in reading, writing, nutrition, and health care are offered in lieu of labor.
It has been a struggle to get these women here. Zabul, like all of southern Afghanistan, is deeply conservative and influenced by the extremist Taliban religious movement, whose insurgency keeps the nation unstable.
Although it was, a difficult step since women are still not allowed that much freedom. The women of Zabul are completely illiterate - the educated ones come from other provinces. Still some 100 women have dropped the idea of joining the scheme because of security reasons but there are others who are ready to take risk for the sake of their independency.
