THE CHALLENGE

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has been devastated by war, it lacks natural resources and it is largely dependent on the narcotics trade. Much of the population is marginalized and often disappointed by foreign aid. Decades of conflict have undermined Afghanistan's unique traditions of Islamic art and architecture, from tilework to calligraphy and embroidery. Of the historic structures that have survived, many are now under threat from developers. So too are the incomes which support Afghanistan's hundreds of thousands of crafts people.