The Merge Of Afghans: Hamwatan

The Merge Of Afghans: Hamwatan Nazanin Azimi

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This is a book about you and your fellow ethnic friends! It will bring peace, encouragement and positive energy. It is filled with activities to do with friends and family.

A place to find yourself in.

A place to feel special.

A great place to learn whilst doing fun activities.

Soo... Go wild, have fun and make a mess!

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This book belongs to...

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Equipment you will need for the activities: . Paint . Paint brushes . Pen . Pencil . Scissors . Glue stick

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Draw a portrait of yourself in the mirror.

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Draw around the dots to create the map of Afghanistan!

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Pashtun Population 42 per cent of the population.

Language They have a distinct language called Pashto (an official language since 1936) but also speak Pakhto, which are Iranian dialects.

Clothing Colourful dresses, with shisha mirrors and golden embroidery.

Culture Pashtun culture is celebrated for its traditional music, dancing, poetry and storytelling. Atan is a famous group folk dance of the Pashtun.

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Create a pattern for the dress using only circles.

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Colour in the traditional jewellery.

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Make some Afghan cookies and share with your friends!

‘Kulcha” are traditional Afghan cookies that are very delectable and delicious. Usually made for the new year, but can be eaten all year round. Soft on the outside with a bite on the inside!

1/2 cups Trex (solid shortening) 2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup cornstarch 4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cardamom Ground pistachios (garnish)

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Method Step one Heat Trix to warm, not hot. In a mixer, add the warmed Trix, powdered sugar and cornstarch. Mix well.

Step two In a separate bowl, add all purpose flour, baking powder and cardamom. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and combine with hands for a few minutes.

Step three Form into a ball, about the size of your palm, and flatten out to about half an inch of thickness.

Put a thumb print in middle. Dough will cracking, but that is okay. At this stage you have to work pretty quickly, because as the Trix hardens, it will be harder to form into a cookie.

Step four Back in a pre-heated oven at 350F for 30 minutes using a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. You want the cookie to be a pale white colour, not brown.

Step six Cool cookies. Once cooled, sprinkle middle with ground pistachios!

And enjoy!

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Dear ...

I like...

Write back soon Love... xxx

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Write a letter to your pashtun friend, list down what you like about them!

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Tajik Population 27 per cent of the population

Language Most Tajiks are Sunni Muslims, with a minority of Twelve Imami Shi’a in the west around the city of Herat, and speak a form of Dari (Farsi dialect) close to the national language of Iran

Clothing Afghan Tajik clothing is not especially distinctive but men do top their embroidered caps with a Turban and women favour shawls over veils.

Culture Time-honoured artistic traditions including poetry, folk tales, artwork, songs and dances define and preserve the values of the Tajik culture. Creative expressions include handsome carpets, ceramics, richly embroidered costumes and men’s brightly coloured caps and jewellery.

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Fill this page with different colourful stripes!

Get inspiration from traditional tajik clothing!

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Design your own pakol!

A round topped type of men’s hat, usually made from wool.

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Collect as many hand prints as you can from all the ethnic groups.

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Create your own helping chain.

Write down things you like about each ethnic group.

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Instructions Step One Choose paper and colours.

Step two Cut into strips and a write a message on each strip.

Step three ‘Make the chain’ Fold the first strip so the ends overlap each other.

Either glue the ends together or staple. Link the next strip through the hole in the first link and then glue.

Keep doing this until you have a chain.

Step four ‘Hang’ Once you've reached the length that makes you happy, hang the chain somewhere for you to see!

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Hazara Population 9 per cent of the population

Language Hazaras speak a dialect of Dari (Farsi dialect) called Hazaragi and the vast majority follow the Shi’a sect (Twelve Imami) of Islam.

Clothing Modern Hazara dresses normally have sleeves with narrow cuffs and they end at the knee or halfway along the calves. Festival versions tend to be made out of purple velvet, but other colours (red) are also worn.

Culture The Hazaras are very fond of music, and have their own “style”, just as every part of Afghanistan has. A Peculiar to the Hazara is a kind of yodelling, which is originated in Jaghori The instrument used most is the dambura, a plucked two-stringed instrument.

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Colour in the famous Afghan dishes.

Bolani Also known as Perakai or Poraki, this Afghanistani bread is prepared either by baking or frying and has a vegetable stuffing made of different types of ingredients like potatoes, pumpkin, chives, lentils, and leeks.

Ashak Also called ‘Aushak’, it is a common menu for public holidays and Islamic festive gatherings like Eid and Ramadan. This dish is made of pasta dumplings stuffed with scallion. It is usually served with a meaty tomato sauce. The meal is often enjoyed with yogurt and dry mint garnishes.

However, a vegetarian variety is also available.

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Kufta Korme Kofta (lamb meatballs) is a national favourite and a time-honoured authentic and traditional Afghani dish.

Mantu Also known by other names like ‘Manto’ or ‘Manti’, these are dumplings made from minced or ground meat and is a common street food. Because it is steamed, the cooking process is easier. This gluten-free dish is healthy, and with a less oil content that makes it easier to digest.

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Paint the musical instrument “dambora”

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Dambora is a popular folk instrument among Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmens and Tajiks.

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Paint your cultural clothes and write a bit about where your from.

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What is your favourite cultural thing that you would like to share with a friend?

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We are all equally human in the end. Each ethnic group has its importance, essence and aura in Afghanistan. We should be proud and praise this country for being such a beautifully diverse country. It is time for reform.

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For Afghanistan to change for the best, we change our habits and see the world differently. There lies a world of peace and no competition, no hate but encouragement and positive energy where we uplift each other, stand together and help one another.

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The Merge Of Afghans: Hamwatan This activity book for the children of Afghanistan that focuses on the diverse ethnic groups of Afghanistan.

There has been historical hatred between these tribes in Afghanistan for a long time now. However, this book will celebrate these different ethnicities and highlight the positive similarities between them. They will learn about the various ethnic groups while doing small activities like drawing. This book will help bring peace, encouragement and positive energy within themselves and their fellow tribal friends. This will educate the children of Afghanistan on their beautifully diverse country.

It will change them for the better and help them see the world differently. £

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