TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - Local Afghan leaders, government officials, and distinguished foreign visitors gathered at the Uruzgan Provincial Governor's Compound, Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, to hold a Shura for the Tarin Kot Road Project, June 30, 2012.

The Tarin Kot Road Project is a program implemented by the Afghan Peace Re-Integration Program and National Rural Access Program to build up infrastructure in Tarin Kot and other areas in the Uruzgan province.

"I respect the attention being put into Uruzgan," said Provincial Governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada.

Construction work of Tarin Kot road began, May 20, 2012. The project will construct a 14.4-kilometer stretch of paved road and will be built by a local Afghan firm.

“Paved roads allow the farmers to move their produce, which leads to higher income, which ultimately leads to more families being able to give their children a good education," said Alvaro Rodriguez, a member of the United Nations Development Program.

The UNDP has given funds donated from various U.N. countries to the NRAP.

Uruzgan province has received $2.8 million of NRAP funds to build the Tarin Kot Road Project.

During the Shura attendees discussed topics that were important to the area. Key among them was education.

"Without education we cannot advance," said Akhundzada, "If the province doesn't advance, the country cannot advance."

Members of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's High Peace Council spoke to local leaders on what the road project would bring to the area and the importance of appreciating NRAP projects.

"Before we did not have paved roads in Tarin Kot," said Wiqad Qazi Amin, a member of the HPC. "Make sure you respect the [non-government organizations] who try to help you. They will help us more and then we will be able to help ourselves."

The message of the day was not about the power of the State, but of the power of the community to come together to achieve common goals.

"A year ago you were not the same," Amin said while addressing the crowd. "Your physical and mental selves are different because as things get better and change, we get better and change."

The Provincial Governor spoke about the progress made.

"We never had anything at a national level, we never had anything at a state level," said Akhundzada. "Now we have a constitution, now we have a government, now we have development."

The commencement of the road project shows local Afghans that Uruzgan is on the path to further development in the area.

"The Afghan Road Project is important because it shows the way of unity and the way of peace," said Australian Ambassador Paul Foley, "and I think the progress made in Uruzgan is from people working together and walking the path of peace."

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