Pashto Television Drama, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan

PAS Kabul invites all eligible organizations to submit a proposal for a Pashto-language television drama series that highlights the power of civic engagement and peaceful community involvement to enact positive change and provide an alternative to violent extremism. This grant will fund the development, production and broadcast of a Pashto-language television drama series in which a former militant fighter, disillusioned by his experiences, returns to his village and learns that his dreams of fighting for justice are best fulfilled by becoming an agent of positive change in his community. Each episode will highlight a different challenge faced by Afghans (ex: local corruption, access to education, youth unemployment, honor killings, public health, maternal mortality, extremist threats, etc.) and show the main character courageously leading his community to address them – with the support and advice of an intelligent female family member (his mother, sister, or wife). The program will be amplified through social media and other means.PAS intends to issue an award for a period of 15 months (base period) with options for two additional 12 month periods (option periods one and two).