Implemented by the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, the Murad Khane project supports the economic, social, and cultural regeneration of the district of Murad Khane through a variety of measures aimed at raising the community’s standard of living, enhancing its economy, and strengthening its traditions and identity.

The most important activities under this project are:

• Providing employment, literacy courses, and vocational training.
• Operating schools of traditional arts, such as traditional ceramics, woodwork, and calligraphy.
• Offering business training and other services to craft producers.
• Restoring, refurbishing, and rebuilding homes, cultural buildings, shops, and infrastructure.

The district of Murad Khane is an important commercial and cultural hub on the Kabul River in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul. While years of neglect and war have damaged the historic area, Murad Khane retains much of its original fabric, with a network of small streets connecting the bazaar, religious structures, and houses in a layout representing the area’s unique ties to Afghan history.

Historical buildings are being restored in Murad Khane, as this detail shows.

© Turquoise Mountain

A recent graduate of Turquoise Mountain’s School of Calligraphy and Painting works on a calligraphy piece for her final portfolio.

© Turquoise Mountain

Children in Murad Khane now have a new playground to play in thanks to the work of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation.

© Turquoise Mountain

• Cleared over 17,000 square meters of rubbish, repaired over 50 houses, built more than 30 household latrines, dug wells, installed 700 meters of drainage, reconstructed shops, and paved streets in the Murad Khane community.
• Provided basic education for children at the formally registered public school, and literacy training for adults in the community.
• Provided primary medical care and health education for residents at the community health centre.
• Preserved historic buildings to serve as the new home for the Institute in Murad Khane, the artistic quarter of Kabul’s old city.
• Established the Institute for Afghan Arts and Architecture, where 120 students are being educated in the Schools of Woodwork, Calligraphy & Painting, Ceramics, and Jewellery & Gem-Cutting.
• Accreditation with Afghan Ministry of Education and certification through City & Guilds. Upon graduation, students will join a community of over 1.5 million certified City & Guilds artisans worldwide, allowing them to work or continue their studies abroad.
• First class of students graduated in December 2009. Turquoise Mountain’s Graduate Opportunities Programme is providing strong and consistent support for these students as they set up their own businesses, study abroad, pursue teaching careers, or work in our Design & Production Studio.
• Completed unique commissions totalling more than $1 million including carved architectural pieces, furniture and calligraphy in embassies and private buildings worldwide, and most recently an entire suite in carved Afghan woodwork for the Connaught Hotel in London.
• Designed high quality gift ranges, from furniture and carved wall panels, to jewellery, calligraphy and ceramics.
• Published a new Gift Catalogue and our new portfolio of Fine Afghan Architectural Woodwork.
• Exhibited at trade fairs and art exhibition in London, San Francisco, Venice, New York, Islamabad, Dubai and Bahrain.

• Turquoise Mountain Foundation
• Turquoise Mountain Video on YouTube