The Archbishop of Wales will bless a carpet on Monday woven by young and disabled people in Afghanistan.
Dr Barry Morgan will bless the carpet which will hang on a wall at St Michael’s College, Llandaff. It was commissioned by the Friends of St Michael’s College to support Afghan Action– a charity set up by a clerygman to improve life for youngsters in the conflict ridden country.
The carpet bears the college’s coat of arms and Welsh symbols such as Celtic crosses and knots, harps and daffodils – the national flower of both Wales and Afghanistan. It was designed by the Revd Marianne Osborne, former student at the college and now youth chaplain in St David’s Diocese. It is made from Ghazni wool which comes from high grazing mountain sheep in Afghanistan, and was coloured and woven in conditions as cold as minus 20 degrees.
Measuring 4.2m by 2.3m, it cost £3,000 to make and will take pride of place on a wall in the college’s refectory.
Afghan Action runs a Training and Business Incubation Centre for young men and women, some disabled, in Kabul. They make handmade carpets to traditional and modern designs and also provide literacy and numeracy classes, a free midday meal and healthcare for all staff and trainees. Their goal is to help young people help themselves through training and jobs.
The Archbishop said Afghan Action offered hope to a country torn apart by war, corruption and drugs.
He said, “Sadly so much of what we hear about Afghanistan is negative – a country torn apart by conflict, corruption and drugs. Yet here is a project which is trying to reverse that by offering young people an alternative future – one in which they can become self-sufficient by building on their tremendous heritage and culture. This carpet, which they have made, will remind all the students and visitors at the college of what can be achieved when all the odds seem stacked against you.”
Carol Cobert, chair of the Friends of St Michael’s College, said, “We think this is a truly international piece of work – one that represents the best of both Welsh and Afghan cultures, but one that is also something striking and enduring. Most importantly, it has helped in some small way to assist with alleviating the poverty and cycle of drug-orientated living in which so many Afghan people are trapped.”
Following the blessing ceremony, there will be a display and sale of other traditional handmade carpets from Afghanistan.
The event takes place on Monday, May 21, at 7pm, at St Michael’s College, Cardiff Rd, Llandaff. All are welcome to attend.
For more information about Afghan Action, please visit: www.afghanaction.co.uk
