Day one with the BARTies: Getting to know each other in hyperdrive.

Nasima.

Miriam, Susan, Athena and Mobina.

Parwana and Ray.

Jessica at the helm.

How it started: Dubai Women's College Dr. Monica Gallant welcomed us all extending every inch of this beautiful campus to our group. How it ended, singing Afghan and American love songs on a bus to a river cruise.

Now here’s everything in between.

Athena crafted a unique icebreaker. She formed groups making sure there was an English speaker in all (no mean feat) and she asked us to share dreams. “Making a difference” was the dream in varying words and languages that wove through each group.

Toni then defined the platform for the BARTies and their three-year Bpeace Program. “What we will do: share knowledge and know-how. What we don’t do: give you money. What we require: assess at the end of the week if we are a good match for each other; and grow your business by adding jobs, with some of those jobs targeted at members of idle or disadvantaged groups.” The nodding heads were joined by raised arms and voices when Toni introduced the mantra for the BARTies: “More jobs mean less violence."

Now, there aren’t that many elevators in Afghanistan, but that doesn’t mean that every BARTie doesn’t need to have an “elevator pitch” in her pocket. Laurie got to be one of those lucky Bpeacers who directly transferred what she does in real life to her Bpeace experience. Laurie with assist from Athena taught the BARTies how to shape their own elevator pitches. You would think the Afghan women had been doing this for years. They were terrific, and especially loved seeing the video replay of their performances.

Khatera facilitated a panel of the third-year Associates—Nasima, Kamela and Habiba. Nasima advised the BARTies, “Don’t be like sauce all over the place. Focus.”

Big doings when Susan brought out the laptops for our Associates, loaded with a bonus gift: Bpeace training workbooks already translated into DARI. Their appreciation was magnified when they realized the computers had wireless Internet access.

Dubai Women’s College had arranged with their medical unit to provide free check-ups to the Associates. While waiting to be seen, no time was wasted. The Associates worked one-on-one with Bpeacers who were on a mission to learn more about their businesses. Wendy learned how Guljan makes tomato paste. Ladan expanded her knowledge of Mobina’s radio station. Ray managed to get in a few discovery questions on Parwana’s printing business.

Through it all, Sandi kept the logistics working and Jessica photographed, videographed and pinch hit where necessary.

Whew.