Historical Overview

Before the Russian invasion in 1979, Afghanistan was involved in the development of its socio-economic situation (infrastructure, education, health care, and agricultural and industrial production). After 1979 these attempts came to a standstill, and much of what had been achieved was destroyed. Thirty years of war has caused a lot of damage and human suffering. After the fall of the Soviet backed communist government in 1992, the fighting continued between Mujahadeen factions. 1994 saw the emergence the Taliban who took control of the country by 1996. During the years of their harsh rule more suffering was added to the already war weary population.

In the fall of 2001 the Taliban were defeated by the Northern Alliance, and from December 2001 until June 2002 the Afghan Interim Administration controlled the struggling country. In June 2002, a president was appointed to lead the country for 18 months. In October 2004 the first election took place. Now seven years later the country geared up for a new election, but was still battling resurgent Taliban and other anti-government militants.

SERVE was founded in 1972 to assist victims of a famine in Ghor province, in central Afghanistan, where it provided help for two years. SERVE was then re-established in 1980 to assist the many Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Since 1992 SERVE has shifted its focus to work inside Afghanistan. By the end of 1998 SERVE closed down the rest of its projects in Pakistan.

The shift of focus from refugee work in Pakistan to rehabilitation and development inside Afghanistan was not only a geographical change, but at the same time a shift from relief oriented work to more of a development focus. In some areas like: blind rehabilitation, health education, use of solar energy, reforestation/fruit tree growing, the programmes stayed the same. These are needy sectors also inside Afghanistan, and SERVE is effectively using the experience and expertise acquired over the years. However, to meet additional needs, new activities were taken on: deaf rehabilitation, functional literacy, community based rural development, and prevention of blindness.

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Historical Overview