Ahmad Khan’s Story of Resilience

“This food package was not just bread for me — it was hope for life.”

– Ahmad Khan, 70, beneficiary of the CRL project

Photo of Ahmad Khan in his village, a beneficiary of the CRL project in Parwan Province. @Abdulbadi Yousufzai 

In the remote village of Dahan-e-Peshi Qole, located in the Shinwari District of Parwan Province, lives Ahmad Khan, a 70-year-old father and husband whose weathered hands and sun-darkened face speak of a life filled with labor and quiet endurance. His home, like many in his small community, is built of simple mud bricks, with narrow dirt paths that become muddy rivers during winter and dusty trails in the dry season.

For years, Ahmad Khan fought a daily battle to keep his family fed. Without a regular job, he relied on daily labor—whatever work he could find in the markets or on other people’s farms. But many days, he came home with nothing, and his children went to sleep on empty stomachs.

“My wife would look at me with worry in her eyes,” he recalls quietly. “She never blamed me, but I could see her fear. I felt like I was failing my family.”

Their home offered little comfort—cracked walls, a leaking roof, and not enough fuel to keep warm in winter. The summers brought their own trials, with no fans, no fresh water, and no way to escape the heat. Yet despite everything, Ahmad Khan never lost hope.

He speaks with gentleness and humility. Behind his tired eyes is a spirit that refuses to give up. “All I want,” he says, “is for my children to get an education so they don’t have to suffer like I did. I want them to have a life with dignity.”

A Ray of Light

Ahmad Khan’s fortunes began to change when he was identified as a beneficiary of the Afghanistan Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project (ACRLP), implemented by UNOPS.

He first heard about the program from village elders and CRG members, who explained that it aimed to support families in extreme need—households like his, who had no stable income and no safety net. After a careful selection process, Ahmad Khan’s name was added to the list.

A few months later, he received a food package worth 10,000 AFN. That moment, he says, was like a sunrise after a long night.

“When I brought the package home, my children smiled again,” he says, pausing. “My wife cried — not from sadness, but from relief. For the first time in a long while, we had enough to eat.”

But for Ahmad Khan, the gift was more than food. “It was a sign that we are not forgotten. That someone cares. That maybe — just maybe — things will get better.”

Restoring Hope, Rebuilding Lives

Since receiving support from the CRL, Ahmad Khan has felt a shift — not just in his circumstances, but in his outlook. With his family’s immediate needs met, he has begun to think more clearly about the future. He now feels confident enough to look for better opportunities and is considering small-scale farming to sustain his family.

“This help didn’t just fill our stomachs,” he says. “It filled our hearts. It gave me strength.”

His wife, once weighed down by anxiety, now smiles more often. The children, once too tired and hungry to focus, have begun talking about school again. The stress in their home has eased, replaced by cautious optimism.

The CRL project not only helped Ahmad Khan’s family survive, it helped them feel human again—respected, seen, and supported.

Community Reflections and Program Impact

Local CRG members have noted how the project has positively impacted vulnerable families like Ahmad Khan’s. However, they also recognize that more support is still needed. “Resources are limited, and many families are still waiting for help,” one CRG representative said. “But this program is a good start — it gives people hope.”

Project staff emphasize the importance of coordination and community input, ensuring that the assistance reaches those most in need. They see firsthand the emotional and physical toll poverty takes, and they strive to make a tangible difference, even if in small steps.

Walking Toward a Brighter Future

Ahmad Khan still lives in the same humble home, but his spirit is lighter now. When he walks through the village, he does so with a little more pride. The weight on his shoulders has lessened, and his dreams — once buried under the burden of survival — are beginning to take shape again.

“My dream is simple,” he says. “A roof that doesn’t leak. A little food each day. And my children going to school, with shoes on their feet and books in their hands.”

So far, the CRL project has supported 181,340 vulnerable households with social grants.