Afghans to relate country’s culture, strife

Two journalists from Afghanistan are set to be featured speakers at the 2010 Nebraska Collegiate Media Association and Golden Leaf Awards, which are taking place at Chadron State.

The two journalists are scheduled to make a public speech from 7 – 9 p.m. April 20 in the CSC Student Center Ballroom.

Javed Hamim Kakar, senior regional and international editor, and Zainab Mohammadi, senior reporter, both of Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) based in Kabul, will spend the week of April 19-24 making public appearances throughout the region.

In addition to the public address on April 20, the pair will make other stops, including classroom visits across CSC, a public address at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D., a visit to classes at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, and tours of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Scottsbluff National Monument, and Chimney Rock National Historic Site.

Michael D. Kennedy, journalism instructor and adviser for The Eagle, said, “Having two journalists on the front line in Kabul and the rest of the country is inspiring to us as an association, particularly The Eagle and CSC.”

Kakar has worked for PAN since July 2004. Before joining PAN, Kakar worked as a wire editor for The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Kabul for four months. He also received an award from Afghanistan’s President, Hamid Karzai, for promoting involvement in the 2004 election.

Kakar was born in Afghanistan and moved to Pakistan as a refugee when he was 7 years old following the Soviet Union’s 1980 invasion of Afghanistan.

His first newspaper job was as a computer operator with Peshawar, Pakistan’s “Wahdat Daily” in 1994. Over the next 10 years, he worked his way up in rank from designer to reporter, and finally to editor.

Kakar, who currently resides in Kabul, is married with five children – a daughter and four sons. When he isn’t working or spending time with his family, Kakar, an avid cricket fan, volunteers his media expertise as adviser and media manager for the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

Mohammadi has worked for PAN since 2004 in the economic and business section as senior reporter. She is responsible for covering news and stories on economics, business, energy, water, and agriculture.

Before PAN, Mohammadi was a reporter for IWPR in Kabul for four months. As a refugee in Iran, she worked as a staff reporter for Sadai Zan, or Women’s Voice, magazine for three years.

Mohammadi has received numerous awards from the Ministry of Information and Technology, Women Affairs, Chamber and Commerce, and Export Promotion Department.

She is currently attending Kabul University studying law and political science while residing with her father, mother, and two young brothers in Kabul.

“With Afghanistan being an essential part to our foreign policy right now, we’re thrilled to have them for this conference,” Kennedy said.