Lebanon and Afghanistan: Communication with Respect to the of 4.5 Million
HOME Interviews Her Excellency, First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani er Excellency, Lebanese-born First Lady of Afghanistan HRula Ghani reflects upon roots, family, academia, and cultural activism. With poise, serenity and sincerity, the multi- lingual Francophone—fluent in Dari and Arabic, too— discussed the role of women within today’s society and recounted her rich journey, from growing up in Lebanon and studying at Université Saint-Joseph (USJ), Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University, to meeting her husband at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and moving to Afghanistan. Reflecting on her roots: We had achieved independence in improving business practices: irrigation looking back at family life in 1943, so my childhood and adolescence systems, seed diversities, fertilization witnessed an important time of growth. methods and such. These discussions At the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, Lebanon thoroughly shaped my understanding of November 2018 My father studied agriculture in France the agricultural economy of Lebanon. What was your Lebanese upbringing and then, in true entrepreneurial like? Tell us about your early years spirit, returned to Lebanon to start an Public service was also a basis of with your parents. agricultural business called Comptoir my family life—it was always very I was born in 1948, during Lebanon’s Agricole du Levant, which my brother important. My father was involved in golden era, when the Lebanese people continues to run today. As a family, our many charities, especially with l'Abbé were busy establishing their nation. dinner table discussions focused on Pierre (the renowned French priest and Photo by Violaine Martin / UN 168 Magazine - THE VOICE OF THE DIASPORA Magazine - THE VOICE OF THE DIASPORA 169 deputy who frequently visited Lebanon current affairs.
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