See Inside Quote of the Week 2. Short Story “There is power in under- 3. Essays standing the journey of oth- 5. News ers to help create your own.” 6. Star related 7. Literary Kobe Bryant 8. Interview

Saturday, August 11, 2018 Vol. 2, No. 91 Star Educational Society Weekly

Interstellar (adjective): situated or occurring between the stars; conducted, or existing between two or more stars The Role of Teaching in Human Development

A message from Rajab Ali Ahmadi, Star Teacher Training Instructor

eaching, in relative to hu- man life, has always been Ta vital factor in human de- velopment. Teaching has led us to modernity, a must-have neces- sity of human beings. For example, people in the past used to live in the coasts and didn’t know how to live, how to save their leftover food, and how to even communicate with each other. It was then when everyone thought of a solution for this disaster. The solution to save them was teaching. Teach- ing, known as a great support, was the way to push human beings forward and save them out of a bleak situation to a lighter direc- tion and of course paved the way for further success in human lives. In addition, teaching has given us self-confidence, which in turn has disciplined human beings life and has peopled our mindset with the ability to think and change. Added to this, teaching has directly im- pacted on our social behavior and fluent communication. and geniuses to fight against all of it, they will definitely find it teacher-student relationship. As our part to humanitar- challenges ahead of our genera- supportive and life changing not To give an end, having well edu- ian contribution, Star Institute of tion. only because of its competitive cated and quality instructors, and World Languages holds Teacher Furthermore, Star Educational environment but also because of well-tempered mentors, Star has Training Classes every semester, in Society will hire and recruit exu- its hardworking and painstaking always made its way to success, which the qualified students will berant and newly graduated stu- teachers, who put all their efforts, and paved the way to Fulbright and learn about different topics like: dents from Teacher Training Class, compared to other centers around, other prestigious scholarships. In productive and receptive skills, which will benefit them as follow. by giving them a helping hand to addition, changing the direction class management skills, how to Firstly, as Star is a well reputed prosper. of a society replete with traditional teach grammar skills, how to com- institute in , it is a dream and Thirdly, Star has already proved thoughts and beliefs towards suc- municate effectively, accurately a privilege for newly hired teach- that its merit-based test is the only cess has always been difficult; and fluently skills, and so many ers to experience their educational guarantee to join Star either as a however, Star with its outstanding other skills. Similarly, students journey with Star family, which, of teacher or student, including ad- methodology and qualified teach- in this class will be taught how to course, provides them with some ministrative procedures. More- ers has made it inevitable. There- engage students in various inter- kinds of mental refreshments and over, teachers who currently teach fore, teaching plays a vital role in class activities to better demon- a better social status. at Star are well educated and are human development, facilitates strate their abilities. To add more, Secondly, Star will give them insightful which can help students life, brings a stroke of fortune, and Star always looks forward to find- hope for a better future. Once they to easily approach them and dis- gives human a big push towards a ing new talents, creative people join Star and become a member cuss their problems with no fear of splendid future. Inside

A Solution or the Beginning of an Ethnic Using Technology My mother is a great Why female suicide in Crisis in the Afghan for Decent Services role model for success is so prevalent Parliamentary Elections? |Page 2| |Page 3| |Page 5| |Page 8| Vol.2, No. 91 Short Story My mother is a great role model for success

Gulchaman Moghul A short story

ike other Afghan mothers, my short time because we were attend- anyone’s help.” hero, to have goals in life, to make a mother had also a lot of hard- ing school as well and at home there Mom! You are great because significant life by setting goals. Lships while she inhabited Jag- were a lot of responsibilities like: weeks ago I read your letter and it If I write about your life story, it hori. As she tells us her story of her housekeeping, washing clothes, was awesome. I really enjoyed read- would be a book, so I want to just life, she sacrificed her life for raising dishes, etc. She was doing all house ing it. Words of your letter come to mention some important points her 8 children. She has mentioned work and task alone in order to let my mind and now I have a picture of about your life and about your hard- about not being any school for us be free to study. a champion mother of the world in work. girls and women. Moreover, people We lived for 13 years in Pakistan my soul and mind. Mom, when you open your book were ashamed of girls’ presence at and after that we came back to Af- Mom, you give hope not only to to read, it makes me think big and be schools. ghanistan and Kabul. Last year, my your children but also to everyone. strong or when you go somewhere, When Taliban attacked Afghani- mother began her studies again. You have a serious problem and you start to read boards which gives stan, we migrated to Pakistan, where She really succeeded because she pain in your waist but you never me hope. Mom, certainly, you make fortunately my mother could attend reached her goals. Now she can surrendered. I am always impressed mistakes with your reading and a literacy center to get education. read and write a bit. As she has been when I watch you lie down and read writing but day by day you are get- She was very interested in reading asked," what is your aim of study- your book because you would feel ting better. Therefore, my mother is and writing. For sure, my father has ing?" She has responded, "I want to pain in your waist if you sit for long a great role model for success. had his role in her success. So my write letter, I want to read and write time. mother attended her study for a and I want to make calls without Mom, you teach us to live like a 

Instructor: Murtaza Farjad Course Timing: 07:00- 08:00AM, 04:00- 05:00PM (Saturday Through Wednesday) Course Duration: 2 months

Page 2 August 11th, 2018 Essays Vol.2, No. 91 Why female suicide in Afghanistan is so prevalent By Sana Safi| BBC Afghan Service| https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44370711 Jamila (not her real name) attempted suicide after she felt abandoned and betrayed by her fiancé - who decided, after a six-year-engagement, that he no longer wanted to marry her because she was "not a young woman any more".

The figure is almost twice as high as "One cause of female suicide is proper strategy for suicide prevention the year before, when some 1,000 sui- abuse, most of it starts in the family - in place. cide attempts were recorded. for example forced marriages, [wom- Some, like Dr Nabil Faqiryar, be- Globally, there are more male sui- en] not being listened to and being lieve there is a need for a "nationwide cides than female suicides - but in Af- stopped from continuing their educa- plan to acknowledge the motives and ghanistan it is estimated that 80% of tion", says Ms Nuristani. causes behind women's suicides", so suicide attempts are made by women. According to a Unicef report, a that the mental health crisis can be ef- The AIHRC warns the number third of Afghan girls are married before fectively tackled. of attempted suicides could be even their 18th birthday. Afghan health officials in Kabul say higher, "as many people in Afghani- Poverty and lack of job opportu- they have outlined a national preven- stan do not report suicide to authori- nities are also reported by women as tion plan which includes giving access ties for a variety of reasons". some of their biggest concerns, as stat- to therapy centres to those suffering Many people in religious rural ar- ed in the Survey of the Afghan People, from mental health problems. Sana Safi eas keep suicide attempts within their released by the Asia Foundation in The Ministry of Public Health says families to themselves, as taking one's 2017. it is gathering data to design an action amila is 18 - and her family ar- life is stigmatised and considered un- Dangerous substances plan. ranged her engagement when she Islamic. There does not seem to be one The WHO has also made a link be- The next task for the country's hu- Jwas just 12. She was taken to a hos- single reason for Afghanistan's high tween easy access to poison and in- man rights commission, according pital in Herat by her mother and treat- female attempted suicide rate. creased suicide rates. to Ms Nuristani, is to "expand aware- ed for poisoning last month. Hawa Alam Nuristani of the AI- And in Afghanistan, one problem ness campaigns to rural parts of the Jamila is one of thousands of Af- HRC suggests reasons could "range is that poisonous substances are easily country, so that people know how and ghan women who try to kill them- from mental health problems and do- accessible. where to get help". selves every year. mestic violence, to forced marriages "In the past few years, it has be- She adds: "We need to make peo- About 3,000 Afghans attempt to and many other social pressures that come easier for people to get hold of ple aware that there are ways to tackle take their own lives every year, ac- women are increasingly facing". medicines and other substances," Mo- those abuses that may push women cording to the Afghan Independent Hawa Alam Nuristani of the AI- hammad Rafiq Shirazi, spokesman for to suicide. Most of such abuses take Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). HRC suggests reasons could "range Herat's main hospital, told the BBC place in far-off, remote areas where Herat province accounts for more from mental health problems and do- Afghan Service. there is a lack of awareness about the than half of all cases nationwide. mestic violence, to forced marriages "Last year, we asked relevant or- law, so people don't know that if they According to health officials in Her- and many other social pressures that ganisations to take action to prevent abuse the female members of the fam- at, 1,800 people tried to kill themselves women are increasingly facing". dangerous substances from being ily then the law might punish them. in 2017 alone, of whom 1,400 were Forced marriages are also often readily available." "In order to tackle this suicide cri- women - and 35 succeeded in taking quoted as a reason why women in dis- Medics in Herat say suicide rates sis, or at least reduce its rate, we all their own lives. tress seek suicide as an escape. will not slow down until there is a need to work together."

August 11th, 2018 Page 3 Vol.2, No. 91 News Bomb Rattles an Afghan Minority So Small ‘No One Is a Stranger’ .by: By Mujib Mashal and Fatima Faizi .Source: The New York Timesnewspaper

“I was thinking of calling her fa- , they were briefly unloaded ther and giving him the good news,” in the temple so that loved ones could Ahmad Sarmast, the school’s director, say their goodbyes. said wistfully. The funeral procession then made Mr. Sarmast, who has lost students its way through afternoon traffic to- in other attacks, said the school was at ward an old corner of the city called a loss for how to console Komal. “We Qalacha. The Army ambulances car- don’t know what to tell her,” he said. rying the bodies, and three mini- The parliamentary candidate who buses carrying the mourners, passed was killed, Avtar Singh Khalsa, had through the Baharistan area, where long established his credentials as a Raju Singh had his herbal medicine community leader. Mr. Ghani’s prede- shop. cessor, Hamid Karzai, even appointed The bodies arrived at a large com- Mr. Khalsa as a senator. But now the pound that is used as the crematory, candidate wanted to try his luck at its garden lined with hollyhock flow- gaining a seat in Parliament through a ers. There, final prayers were read popular vote. — some from memory, others from In interviews after announcing his iPhone screens — and the bodies were candidacy, Mr. Khalsa had empha- scented with rose water and placed on sized how proud he was of not leaving stacked logs. Afghan Sikhs carried the coffin containing the remains of the parliamentary candidate Afghanistan during some of its dark- The mourners waited to start the Avtar Singh Khalsa to a cremation site in Kabul on Monday.CreditJim Huylebroek for est days — including the early 1990s, cremation until Mr. Khalsa’s oldest The New York Times when a rocket killed eight members of son, Narendar Singh Khalsa, had ar- his family in Gardez, the city where he rived from Jalalabad, his left hand in ABUL, Afghanistan — In down- bers to about 800 people, according to lived before moving to Kabul. a sling, his white clothes covered in town Kabul, from a large mural Charan Singh, a member of the cen- The shopkeeper, Raju Singh, a ho- blood. He had been wounded in the Kpainted on blast walls at the tral Sikh temple in Kabul. meopath, was 27 and married when suicide bombing. end of a busy shopping street, the “No one is a stranger — everyone he was still a teenager. He had four “We are ruined, we are ruined,” he piercing eyes of Komal Singh, now a is a cousin or a distant relative,” Mr. children, the oldest an 8-year-old boy. said, smacking his face after his final fourth grader, peer out at the narrow Singh said. His father-in-law, Gulbeer Singh, goodbyes with his father. His friends junction. Of the 14 Sikh victims of the blast received the call with news of his tried to hold him back. For the past couple of years, the on Sunday, a dozen were cremated in death on Sunday evening, and rushed The cremation logs were lit, the mural has carried an anticorruption Jalalabad, including Rawail Singh, a to Kabul from the city of Ghazni. wind fanned the fire. The crowd slowly message: “Bribetakers are not hidden native of the city. All either lived in the “My daughter is so young, I don’t dispersed. from the eyes of God and the people.” city or had roots there. know how to talk to her,” Gulbeer Mr. Khalsa’s sons exited the cre- Now, that mural carries a further, un- Two bodies — those of the only Singh said at the temple. “I am sick, matory barefoot. They walked up the written reminder: Another Afghan Sikh candidate for the Afghan Parlia- but still I am alive,” added Mr. Singh, pebbled alley that led to the main child is deprived of a father. ment, and of a shopkeeper who sold 50, who has diabetes. “My son-in-law road, passing a small mosque where a On Monday, Komal traveled to herbal medicine — were taken to Ka- is gone. It is not fair at all.” chorus of children repeated their late- the eastern city of Jalalabad with her bul. They were mourned by a couple When the two corpses arrived from afternoon studies. mother, Preeti, sister Pari and brother of hundred people gathered at a tem- Prince to cremate her father, Rawail ple, a nondescript two-story building Singh, who was among the 19 people in the north of the city, before the bod- killed this weekend in a bombing out- ies were taken to be cremated. side a compound where President Rawail Singh, who was in his late was holding meetings. 40s, worked at a media company in Fourteen of the victims, including Kabul and was an active member of Mr. Singh, were Sikhs — members of the civil society scene. He was also in- a tiny religious minority in the coun- volved in organizing a music festival try — who were just arriving for an in Bamian Province, west of Kabul, to audience with the president when a promote understanding and empa- suicide bomber ripped through the thy. crowd. “A couple of years ago, Mr. Singh The death of Mr. Singh, who, as and I lost a friend who was a doctor part of an activist group of artists had in the attack on the 400-bed hospital,” beautified many of the ugly blast walls recalled Omaid Sharifi, who leads Art- that have turned Kabul into a maze, Lords, the group of activist artists. “Mr. devastated friends and activists in the Singh said: ‘Omaid, do you know when city, where he lived. would be our turn? Today we lost this But the blow was much larger to friend; tomorrow or the day after it Afghanistan’s shrinking Sikh popula- would be one of us. Who knows?’” tion. Mr. Singh had recently enrolled Years ago, before the country sank Komal in the prestigious Afghanistan into a four-decade war, there were as National Institute of Music, where she many as 65,000 Sikh families across learned to paint and play music in Afghanistan, community elders es- addition to regular fourth-grade sub- timated in the absence of official jects. She had just been accepted into numbers. But decades of war and a sitar class, a notable achievement persecution have shrunk their num- for a student of her age.

Page 4 August 11th, 2018 News Vol.2, No. 91 A Solution or the Beginning of an Ethnic Crisis in the Afghan Parliamentary Elections? The decision to divide Ghazni into three constituencies could deepen ethnic tensions in the province. By Bismellah Alizada Source: The Diplomat

up half of the population. There have come the newly appointed shadow Ashraf Ghani during the 2014 presi- also been concerns raised over wom- governor and police chief or prepare dential campaign. A seducing cam- en’s representation as the current di- for war. This comes after the Taliban paign promise in the 2009 and 2014 vision has allocated a three-seat quo- announced shadow governors for Jag- presidential elections, the issue of a ta for the female demographic. hori, Malistan, and Nahor districts, all separate province has once again sur- As representatives of Ghazni in of which fall in the Hazara-dominat- faced in the recent debates following the parliament have highlighted in ed controversial electoral constitu- the IEC decision. a statement, in addition to being ency. The local perception holds that Dividing Ghazni into smaller elec- unconstitutional, the decision is a the ultimatum was declared in tan- toral constituencies seems to be a first breach of articles 35, 36, and 71 of the dem with the government decision step for smaller constituencies that current elections law, and therefore to implement the three-constituency are modeled on the historical formula lacks a legal basis. Article 36, among decision. of dividing ethnic groups as minority other things, clearly stipulates that As the opposition to the decision pockets in Pashtun provinces to keep “The boundaries of electoral constit- gradually gathers momentum, the the a dominant majority uencies shall be determined at least debate around the issue sharpens, across the country. For the electoral Bismellah Alizada is deputy director 180 days before the election day.” In identifying the recent discriminatory constituencies to be engineered in at the Kabul-based Organization for fact, the government rejected a plan decision as symptomatic of deeper the same vein, Ghazni was among the Policy Research and Development Studies (DROPS). The views expressed to reduce electoral constituencies — inequalities and ethnic disparities in most difficult provinces of all given its here are his own and do not necessar- which would have divided all prov- the province. Some have pointed to ethnic composition. Thus, the recent ily reflect those of DROPS. inces into constituencies on the basis the unwritten law that no Hazaras decision seems to be a pilot program of the population — in late May on can become governor or police chief for the hotly controversial plan of di- the same legal basis. of the province that speaks of a deep- viding all big provinces into smaller fter more than two months of The decision to reduce Ghazni rooted institutional bias against an constituencies. electoral crisis in Ghazni prov- alone could be the match that sets ethnic group that arguably comprises The IEC’s decision is in no way an ince, Afghanistan’s Indepen- A powder keg of ethnic conflict alight, close to half of the population in the end to the election crisis in Ghazni dent Elections Commission (IEC) an- sowing division in the province and province. province; rather it is the beginning of nounced on June 25 that the province beyond, dividing the people along One remedy proposed is a two- a problem rooted in pre-existing eth- has been divided into three constitu- ethnic lines ahead of the October province solution that is argued to nic divides that have the potential to encies, a decision that spurred sharp parliamentary and 2019 presidential be both a legal and fair end to the tear apart the already poorly woven criticism from Ghazni residents, civil elections. The Hazaras of Qarabagh present crisis. The idea has been in social fabric in Ghazni and across the society, and their representatives in district in the Ghazni have lived with circulation since at least the 2009 country. If there is only one way for parliament. Rather than an end to the fear of an ethnic conflict for the presidential election, in which the Afghanistan to gain political stability the electoral stalemate in Ghazni, the past few weeks. Meanwhile, and in a promise to give the Hazaras of Ghaz- and social peace, it is a fair democrat- decision looks to be the beginning of surprise move, the Taliban declared ni a separate province was bartered ic process that accommodates the a new crisis tied very much into the an ultimatum for Jaghori district to in exchange for their votes. The same legitimate demands and rights of all ethnic agenda to increase Pashtun either submit to the group and wel- card was played by current President ethnic groups. representation in the legislature. Voter registration for the 2018 par- liamentary and districts council elec- tions was launched across Afghani- stan on April 14, first in the capital and provincial centers, followed by district centers and villages. Candi- date registration for the two elections began on May 26 for a period of 12 days. Ghazni was the only province where voter and candidate registra- tion was suspended, thus only a limit- ed number of voters registered while no candidates could register to run for parliament or the district council. A debate on the issue during a session in the parliament broke into physical fight. According to the IEC’s decision, Ghazni will be divided into three smaller constituencies, placing pock- ets of ethnic minorities in each con- stituency, a fact that has the potential to instigate ethnic conflict. According to the decision, one constituency is Hazara-dominated with small pock- ets of Pashtun minorities, while the other two are Pashtun-dominated with pockets of Hazara and Tajik mi- norities. This leaves Hazaras with a weak chance of getting even four Supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah, listen to his speech during a campaign seats out of the 11 reserved for the rally in Jaghuri district in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Thursday, May 29, 2014. province, while they arguably make

August 11th, 2018 Page 5 Vol.2, No. 91 Star related B-U Semester at Star Institute of World Languages, Pole Sorkh This page is prepared by Najeebullah Rezayee and his Advance students at different Star branches. This week it is specifically designed to reflect the content and students of Academic Writing Class at Star Institute of World Languages, known as Star Institute. Students of other advance classes in different branches are encocuraged to take part and help improve the content of this page

tar Educational Society is intro- Institute of World Languages. Our ing for professional purposes or fun, will be granted their Diplomas, which ducing a great opportunity to concentration on writing in Advance the skills you gain will help enhance will enable them to register for Star’s Senhance your Academic English A, Advance B and Academic Writing your talent to express yourself and be popular Teacher Training class and skills and focusing on advanced writ- classes is a step toward mastering better organized in your writing ap- TOEFL preparation class. If students ing and reading skills. some of the fundamental elements proach. desire to be a future teacher at Star The Advanced English classes at of university success. These classes In Academic Writing, you will be Educational Society or elsewhere, Star introduce several interesting help prepare our students to develop taught Outlining, Planning, Writing they can join a two month Teacher and indispensable writing and read- their English skills so as to continue essays, Features of Academic Writ- Training course at Star. ing practices which will enable our their education abroad. ing, Bibliography, Referencing, MLA To sum up, if you wish that your students to major their essay writing In addition, many students want referencing rules, APA referencing, wishes would come true, join Star and reading techniques. If you are an to learn it for business purposes; Chicago style, Harvard style, Tura- to learn English academically and academic, the chances are that your they want to write better letters, CVs, bian style, Citations, Summarizing, professionally. Furthermore, if you career development is defined by reports and proposals. A number of Paraphrasing, Direct quotation and dream of studying here or abroad, what you write. advanced students want to conduct avoiding Plagiarism. join Star Educational Society and We teach Advance A, Advance B research and write them in English. After completing these three in- join us for a difference to master lan- and Academic Writing classes at Star Whether you study academic writ- tensive advanced classes, students guages with eagerness and vigor.

About the author: This is Fatima Bakhshi a current student of Aca- About the author: My name is Zohra and my last name is Danish. I demic Writing course at Star Educational Society C Branch, which am from Qarabagh, Ghazni and I was born there. Ghazni province is source of Academic Language over all in Kabul with more than has 16 districts one of which is Qarbaqh. Qarbaqh is a green place a decade experience. where 50% of the citizens are Hazara and 50% of them are Pash- tun. It has a small Bazaar named Bazar-e-Qarbaqh. It has some schools which do not have facilities for students.

was born in Iran and studied primary school there. When I came to Afghanistan, our former president named Hamid I Karzai was newly selected. I was not accustomed to Afghan was enrolled in school in Qarbaqh and graduated from Helmand in 1396. From traditions and everything was strange for me. However, I found the best school first up to third grade, we didn’t have school and studied under the canopy. named “Marefat” High School and continued my education till 9th grade. I From third up to sixth grade, I studied in a school named Mahmood Tarzi High Studying was very enjoyable and interesting for me there. School, which was called Maktab-e-Sarkari before. When I was in sixth grade, my Besides going to school, I started learning English in different centers, but family moved to Helmand. And we started new life in Lashkarga, Helmand. finally I came to Star and everything was different from other centers like sys- Helmand is one of the largest provinces of Afghanistan. It has 14 districts with lots of historical places. It has a river named Helmand and lots of small lakes. tem and discipline and teachers for me. I started studying from level three. Most of the citizens are Pashtuns. The people of Helmand are kind, friendly, and Then our family decided to leave for Pakistan. After going there, I continued my religious. In Helmand girls and boys schools are separate. It’s a custom among education in a private Afghan school and graduated from school. I joined some people that women and girls must have long veils. computer centers and English centers there and taught some classes. I continued the rest of my lessons in Malaly Girls High School. In addition, I In 2017, we came back to our own country and I continued learning English had gone to courses like computer, English, sewing and needle work. Living in at Star Educational Society from level three at B Branch. I tried a lot to reach Helmand was amazing, but unfortunately, it was insecure sometimes. For that this class and worked hard. Furthermore, I had a part time job as a receptionist we left Helmand and immigrated to Kabul. When we came to Kabul, I decided to in an organization. go to university and I joined Ibne-e- Sina University located in Kart-e-3. I studied Nowadays I am studying at Ibne Sina University majoring Economic and political science for few months there. Unfortunately, I left university which made Management. I don’t have any duty and job yet, but I hope one day I will be me sad. a member of Star. That’s why learning English at Star is my enthusiasm and After that I began studying English at Star Educational Society. I have been interest. I have many wishes and aims too. I hope to develop my education studying at Star since 2016 and currently I am studying Academic Writing class; and be an independent person in the future. Moreover, I have a great plan for it gives me hopes to continue my lesson. It is natural that everyone has lots of development of my country. I work hard and try a lot to reach that position and wishes, like others. It is my wish to study and have achievements for myself and put my plans into action. my family. I loved to be a politician to help my people and change the political The big goal in my heart is to make a better situation of economy of Af- situation of my country. We know it is hard but not impossible. If I were a presi- ghanistan and provide job for everyone who is jobless and increase the level of dent, I would upgrade the facilities of studying, making orphanages, insurance economy in the world. system, and tax and so on. I am interested in exercising fitness and taekwondo.

Page 6 August 11th, 2018 Literary Vol.2, No. 91

Featured Poem: The Builders by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The Builders week on, I’m still finding that I’m utterly riv- A eted by the fantastic Poetry Tags project; ini- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) tially striking me as a somewhat unusual (I don’t .https://blog.thereader.org.uk/2011/07/25/featured-poem-the-builders-by-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/ think that weird or strange is the accurate way in which to describe it) way to display and dis- seminate poetry to the masses, but after a short of time realising All are architects of Fate, amount of time realising that it actually makes that it actually complete sense – given the personal nature and makes complete Working in these walls of Time; ability to make that both fashion and po- sense – given Some with massive deeds and etry hold – and is not just a fad, but something the personal na- very wonderful and inspiring indeed. Just after ture and ability great, first reading about the project, I came across The to make impact Builders by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and that both fash- Some with ornaments of rhyme. was especially struck by the opening stanza: ‘All ion and poetry are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of hold – and is not time/Some with massive deeds and great, Some just a fad, but Nothing useless is, or low; with ornaments of rhyme.’ I deemed this really something very Each thing in its place is best; quite apt for describing it, mainly for the phrase wonderful and ‘ornaments of rhyme’ – demonstrating the deco- inspiring indeed. Just after first reading about the And what seems but idle show rative quality of clothing and also being an elo- project, I came across The Builders by Henry Wad- Strengthens and supports the rest. quent way of labelling (excuse the pun) poetry; sworth Longfellow, and was especially struck by the although of course it is to be absorbed rather opening stanza: ‘All are architects of Fate, Working than just looked at, as pretty as it can be. But also in these walls of time/Some with massive deeds and For the structure that we raise, because these lines emphasise how any act that great, Some with ornaments of rhyme.’ I deemed is undertaken by anyone – especially those that this really quite apt for describing it, mainly for the Time is with materials filled; have the effect of giving something more that is phrase ‘ornaments of rhyme’ – demonstrating the on the surface – be they small or wide-scale, are decorative quality of clothing and also being an Our to-days and yesterdays each and every one of the utmost importance. eloquent way of labelling (excuse the pun) poetry; Are the blocks with which we build. Though projects like Poetry Tags might be con- although of course it is to be absorbed rather than ceived as mainly ornamental, the size of the just looked at, as pretty as it can be. But also because deed is perhaps deceptive. Though it may make these lines emphasise how any act that is undertak- Truly shape and fashion these; much of ‘showing off’ poetry, there is a strong en by anyone – especially those that have the effect and significant message stitched into the seams. of giving something more that is on the surface – be Leave no yawning gaps between; As a stand-alone project, and viewed from the they small or wide-scale, are each and every one of Think not, because no man sees, spectrum of statement of art rather than liter- the utmost importance. ary advancement, it doesn’t seem like a feat that Though projects like Poetry Tags might be conceived Such things will remain unseen. will make a lot of difference. But that’s where as mainly ornamental, the size of the deed is perhaps the contradiction lies. Building a widespread deceptive. Though it may make much of ‘showing appreciation and appreciation for poetry takes off’ poetry, there is a strong and significant message In the elder days of Art, considerable time, and each apparently minor stitched into the seams. As a stand-alone project, task is vital to creating a solid construction. and viewed from the spectrum of statement of art Builders wrought with greatest We’re aware that creating a reading revolution is rather than literary advancement, it doesn’t seem care a gradual process and you have to work from the like a feat that will make a lot of difference. But that’s ground up with what materials you have. You where the contradiction lies. Building a widespread Each minute and unseen part; may not be so handy with a needle and thread, appreciation and appreciation for poetry takes con- For the Gods see everywhere. you don’t even have to go to great lengths siderable time, and each apparently minor task is dreaming up your own unique and quirky proj- vital to creating a solid construction. We’re aware ect; a difference can be made by the little deeds that creating a reading revolution is a gradual pro- Let us do our work as well, we can all achieve, like sharing a story or reading cess and you have to work from the ground up with a poem to someone (or a few people). And such what materials you have. You may not be so handy Both the unseen and the seen; a message is what is at the heart of this particu- with a needle and thread, you don’t even have to go Make the house, where Gods may lar poem; something to remember when you feel to great lengths dreaming up your own unique and that your actions, whatever they relate to, are in- quirky project; a difference can be made by the little dwell, significant and matter little in the grand scheme deeds we can all achieve, like sharing a story or read- of things: it actually stands that nothing should ing a poem to someone (or a few people). And such Beautiful, entire, and clean. be underestimated. From the roughest sketches a message is what is at the heart of this particular and shakiest foundations can come the greatest poem; something to remember when you feel that of things…(and also, the ‘building’ of a love for your actions, whatever they relate to, are insignifi- Else our lives are incomplete, literature is far less intrusive and disruptive than cant and matter little in the grand scheme of things: Standing in these walls of Time, that of actual physical labour.) it actually stands that nothing should be underes- It’s little surprise something so inspirational, timated. From the roughest sketches and shakiest Broken stairways, where the feet something that calls for each of us to make the foundations can come the greatest of things…(and Stumble as they seek to climb. most of ourselves and contribute our own indi- also, the ‘building’ of a love for literature is far less vidual talents to the world comes from Longfel- intrusive and disruptive than that of actual physical low, who had a long career as a teacher as well labour.) Build to-day, then, strong and as being a poet, and keenly displayed a consid- It’s little surprise something so inspirational, some- erable amount of ambition: statements such as thing that calls for each of us to make the most of sure, “The fact is, I most eagerly aspire after future ourselves and contribute our own individual talents eminence in literature, my whole soul burns to the world comes from Longfellow, who had a With a firm and ample base; most ardently after it, and every earthly thought long career as a teacher as well as being a poet, and And ascending and secure centres in it” demonstrating it clearly. While per- keenly displayed a considerable amount of ambi- taining slightly to his didactic style of writing, it’s tion: statements such as “The fact is, I most eagerly Shall to-morrow find its place. hard not to feel uplifted and reassured by the no- aspire after future eminence in literature, my whole tion that good deeds, even if not especially ‘mas- soul burns most ardently after it, and every earthly sive’ ones, will not go unseen and instead stead- thought centres in it” demonstrating it clearly. While Thus alone can we attain fastly support those that are more substantial. pertaining slightly to his didactic style of writing, it’s To those turrets, where the eye A week on, I’m still finding that I’m utterly riv- hard not to feel uplifted and reassured by the no- eted by the fantastic Poetry Tags project; initially tion that good deeds, even if not especially ‘massive’ Sees the world as one vast plain, striking me as a somewhat unusual (I don’t think ones, will not go unseen and instead steadfastly sup- And one boundless reach of sky. that weird or strange is the accurate way in which port those that are more substantial. to describe it) way to display and disseminate poetry to the masses, but after a short amount

August 11th, 2018 Page 7 Editor-in-Chief: Ali Reza Yasa Editorial support: ROYA Online Writing Center and Jonathan Greenburg Designer: Hamid Qablany Distribution: Najibullah Malikpoor 0785103920 C Branch: Mahdi Akbari 0731978331 B Branch: Abdul Rahman 0744046052 Bamyan: Essa Omid 0773609598 Daikundi: Hamid Naderi 0771991057 Ghazni: Essa Jamal 0787126362 Institute: Zahra Wahidy 0783356637 Add: Star Avenue, Sabiqa Stop, Dehburi, Kabul A Branch Phone: +93 (0) 785 10 39 20 / +93 (0) 744 56 37 55

Saturday, August 11, 2018 Vol. 2, No. 91 Website: http://www.star.edu.af Email: [email protected]

Using Technology for Decent Services An interview with Rahman Mohammadi, IT Officer at GEC (Global Entourage Company)

national and international levels. More- ing information. We can easily say that over, we offer ICT (Information and internet is network of networks. But Communication Technology) services. generally, we can divide ISPs( Internet For instance, we configure and install Service Providers) into three categories; CCTV Cameras, Network Cabling, Net- the first category of ISPs are operating  work maintenance and configurations, around the continents who are huge etc. enough in size, the second rank of ISPs About the interviewer: As we all know, there are a lot of ISPs are operating around a specific country, Fakher Ahmad Amirzad (Internet Service Providers) who and the third rank of ISPs are operating is current English claim they provide high quality inter- throughout the cities who are com- instructor at Star’s A net services, which key features does monly small enough in services and Branch. He earned a BA GEC have that other ISPs do not? size. Therefore, in Afghanistan, we have in Computer Science Actually, most of ISPs who claim the second rank of ISPs as well as the they provide high quality internet ser- third rank. We take the internet links from Shahid Prof. Rab- vices, are not registered in Ministry from our neighbor countries through bani Education Univer- of Communication and Information fiber optic gateways. Afghan Telecom sity. He plans to study Technology. In Addition, they offer distributes the internet links to all ISPs, his Master’s degree in poor services. Most of these ISPs are and ISPs provide internet connections Software Engineering resellers who take the services from for end-users. abroad. other ISPs and offer them to their cus- One of the concerns that internet us- tomers. We have some ISPs who offer ers have, is the security of their data. high quality internet services like GEC Which actions should be taken by ISPs which is registered in Ministry of Com- for maintaining data security? Could you please introduce yourself for making a call to our comrades, we munication and Information Tech- Most of ISPs are using fiber-optic briefly? have almost the same number in the nology. GEC has many routes, and we internet connections. Therefore, an ISP I am Rahman Mohammadi, 25 years computer networks for communicat- guarantee that our services do not have should maintain the security of their old. I have a BA in Computer Science, ing with other clients. This number is any down-time. To be honest, we offer clients by configuring some specific and I have worked as instructor of blind called IP (Internet Protocol) address. 24/7 internet services. protocols. These protocols are VPN, students for five years. In addition, I am Generally, we have two versions of IP Please tell us which organizations are NAT, Diffie-Helman Key Exchange Al- working as IT Officer in a private orga- address; IPv4 and IPv6. They function using your services. gorithm, using firewall, etc. For more nization. the same job. But the gap is in their In fact, GEC offers high quality inter- security clearance, ISPs can configure Please tell us about your Education versions. IPV4 has less addresses avail- net services. It has been long time that VSAT which is a little bit expensive. and achievements. able than IPV6. For instance, we can GEC offers internet services to many Where do you see yourself in five I graduated from Abdul Rahim Sha- have 232 addresses in IPV4 which are NGOs, embassies, ministries, travel years? hid High School in 2013. Passing Kan- not adequate for all devices around the agencies, universities, etc. Where I can see myself in five years kor Exam successfully, I got accepted globe. But IPv6 can provide us 2128 ad- If an organization wants to use your depends on what I do. I will do my best in Computer Science Faculty at Shahid dresses which are huge amount of ad- internet services, which equipment to be a professional IT expert in five Prof. Rabbani Education University. dresses. (102.168.1.2) is an example of could be used for providing the ser- years. I want to pursue my MA in Data During studying at university, I had the IPV4, and (FEDC:BA98:7654:3210:FE vices? Security in the future. pleasure of managing Students Asso- DC:BA98:7654:3210) is an example of GEC has always been trying to offer And finally, what is your message to ciation. Furthermore, I had delivered IPV6. There are still some reasons why best services with low prices. When an Interstellar Bulletin readers? an official presentation regarding IPV6 we use IPV4 instead of IPV6. organization wants us to provide inter- First of all I want to thank all con- in presence of chancellor and other Please tell us about your work experi- net services, we offer our equipment tributors of Interstellar Bulletin for or- professors at Shahid Prof. Rabbani Ed- ence. like Wire, Cable Stands, Point to Point ganizing such a decent weekly. I was a ucation University. I also participated I have taught English Language Devices, and Multipoint Devices for student at Star Educational Society. I in short-term courses held by USWDP in one of Educational Centers in Ka- free based on contracts between GEC am sure that Star has the best English (University Support and Workforce De- bul for two years. And down the line, I officials and clients. learning system. English Language velopment Program) Field Office. Fi- had taught blind students English and Please clarify that how internet ser- plays a key role in our academic and nally, I graduated from Computer Sci- Computer using Braille Alphabet at vices can be accessed by end-users in professional lives. Most of high paid ence Faculty in 2017. Surf NGO. Before long I was hired as IT Afghanistan. jobs require English Language profi- You delivered a presentation about Technician Officer at GEC (Global En- Actually, internet doesn’t have any ciency. So, if you want to master your IPV6, Could you please give us infor- tourage Company). specific source. Internet is a collec- English Language proficiency, select mation about IPV6? Please tell us about GEC services. tion of computer networks which are Star Educational Society as I did. As we have telephone numbers This company offers basic services in connected with each other for shar- 