The Women of Kabul

For several years now I've been following the work of photojournalist Paula Lerner, first from her tireless efforts to arm fellow photographers with better business practices through the EP group to her own photographic work documenting women's issues such as breast cancer awareness.

Lerner's latest project, "The Women of Kabul," currently a multimedia feature on Washingtonpost.com, merges several of her interests and deserves a closer look. The Women of Kabul examines five female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan who are rebuilding their lives and their country by rebuilding their businesses.

Lerner has visited Afghanistan on three occasions in recent years on behalf of Business Council for Peace (Bpeace), a nonprofit organization that assists women in post-conflict countries.

In explaining the project, Lerner writes:

Since 2003, Bpeace has been working to help Afghan women entrepreneurs grow their businesses so that they, in turn, can create more jobs for others. The organization is guided by the belief that more jobs mean less violence. In the past 18 months, I have made three trips to Kabul with Bpeace teams, documenting the effect the group's efforts have had on individual lives and, by extension, communities.

Wisely, Lerner is not viewing the resurgent role of women in Afghan society with rose-colored glasses. While the project does offer hope, it speaks of the problems that lie ahead and issues a challenge to the international community: the fate of Afghanistan will largely be determined by the continued assistance of those who want to see the country get back on its feet and prosper. Lerner is certainly doing her part.

The photographer will participate in a Live Online discussion Monday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. EST.

-- Jay DeFoore