It is hard to believe that it has been six and half years since I decided to serve with Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL)-JRS Afghanistan and had the unique opportunity of setting up the JWL higher education centres in Herat, Bamiyan and Daikundi provinces. The thought first crossed my mind while I was completing my philosophy studies in Chennai, in 2005. As a young Jesuit, I was looking for challenging, apostolic involvement and the thought of volunteering in Afghanistan revisited me.

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Having spent the last six years in that country has afforded me grace

and opportunities. As a frontier Jesuit mission, it has been at times demanding, yet fulfilling. The most challenging times were during

Prem’s captivity. The constant prayerful support of others gave me the grace to move forward.

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I believe that our presence in Afghanistan is a concrete expression of our faith in God, who identifies with the poor and marginalized. I have experienced how higher education can transform the lives of young people in Afghanistan and can provide a better future to those who live on the margins of the society. It is encouraging to see so many young Afghans who have participated in our programs, now take initiatives to carry forward the mission to some remote regions of Afghanistan. To cite one example, the JWL-JRS Diploma graduates, both boys and girls are running Community Learning Centers in some remote regions of Daikundi province with the support of JWL.

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I look back with gratitude for the six years that I spent in Afghanistan. More than what I have been able to do; I have received much from people’s simple living, hospitality and resilience. The local community and the youth were my extended Jesuit family. Though I belonged to

a different faith tradition, never did I feel a stranger. It only takes courage to step out of our comforts and gaze at those barren high peaks of Hindkush beaconing us to show our solidarity with the people affected by war.