Terence’s Afghan exhibition is a big hit at Gorey library

An exhibition of photographs, clothing and objects from Afghanistan is attracting great interest for visitors to Gorey Library this month.

Terence O’Malley of SAFE (Support for Afghan Further Education) has put together an exhibition of some of his photographs taken during his visits to the country over the past two decades.

‘It is called “Another side to Afghanistan” and shows some smiling faces and what Afghans have built,’ said Terence. ‘It has proven to be a popular and an important showcase for furthering an understanding of Afghanistan.’

The photographs document the work of SAFE over several years and Terence has personally befriended many Afghans over the years and striven to raise funds to assist them. He is one of the few Westerns who still travels off the beaten track, sometimes at personal risk and discomfort, but always with humour and humanity.

There are also numerous images from the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

Terence has also visited refugee camps in Pakistan and Internally Displaced Persons camps in Herat and Kandahar, usually sited in bleak and barren areas and where water had to be brought in by tankers twice a day.

Projects undertaken by SAFE include: funding of education; Water Supply Scheme in some areas; a micro-hydro project for Chacha and Qala villages in Begal Valley.

The completed SAFE projects have also been personally visited, inspected and evaluated in all 10 provinces.

One of the images in the exhibition: A boy selling a variety of nuts and dried fruits at Chowk Yagdar old city. Terence O’ Malley at his exhibition of photographs and Afghan memorabilia in Gorey library. Catherine Hempenstall at the exhibition.

One of the images in Terence O’Malley’s exhibition of photographs and Afghan memorabilia. One of the images in the exhibition.