NGOs have come under greater scrutiny since the Taliban seized control of the country two years ago. The Taliban introduced harsh measures and barred Afghan women from education beyond the sixth grade as well as from public life and work, including working for NGOs. A U.S. watchdog reported earlier this year that the Taliban are harassing NGOs operating in the country.

The International Assistance Mission said 18 of its staff were taken away by the Taliban on two separate occasions this month from the NGO’s office in central Ghor province. The 18 detained were taken to Kabul, the group said.

“We are unaware of the circumstances that led to these incidents and have not been advised of the reason for the detention of our staff members,” it said in a statement. “The well-being and security of our colleagues are paramount to us, and we are doing everything possible to ensure their safety and secure their swift release.”

Afghan officials were not available for comment.

Local media, quoting the provincial governor’s spokesperson, Abdul Wahid Hamas, said that the foreigner is a U.S. national and that the staff were detained for “propagating and promoting Christianity.”

The reports did not identify the supposed American staffer and the NGO did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.

The State Department said it was aware of reports about the detention of a U.S. citizen. It urged U.S. nationals not travel to Afghanistan because of armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism and kidnapping.

“Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe and the risk of kidnapping or violence against U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is high,” it said in a statement. “We have no further details to share at this time.”

The nonprofit group, which is registered in Switzerland, says it only works in Afghanistan.

The International Assistance Mission said the 18 people were detained on two separate occasions this month from its office in central Ghor province and taken to the capital, Kabul.

Local media reported that a U.S. national is among those detained and that staff members were detained for preaching about Christianity. The nonprofit said it still has no information about the nature of the allegations.

“IAM has written to the Ministry of Economy, where we are legally registered as an international NGO, about these extremely concerning developments,” the nonprofit said. “We are also working with the U.N. and ACBAR, the coordinating body for NGOs in Afghanistan, to deepen our understanding of the situation and to work for the quick release of our 18 colleagues.”

The mission said it values and respects Afghanistan’s customs and cultures, standing by the principle that aid will not be used to further a “particular political or religious” point of view. It said all its staff agree to abide by the country’s laws.

Afghan officials were not immediately available for comment on the detentions.

The nonprofit said two Afghan nationals and one international team member were taken from its Ghor office on September 3. A further 15 Afghan national staff members were taken from the same office on September 13.

NGOs have come under greater scrutiny since the Taliban seized control of the country two years ago. They have introduced harsh measures, including banning Afghan women from education beyond sixth grade and barring them from public life and work, including jobs at NGOs.

A U.S. watchdog reported earlier this year that the Taliban are harassing NGOs operating in the country.

Umeedd has been doing a stupendous work. The way its members are working towards making people aware about CSA, is commendable and praiseworthy.

Remember Mani Ratnam’s Yuva (2004)? It was about a group of individuals willing to bring revolutionary changes in the society around them. That was reel world.

Now cut to the real world. There is a group of young individuals (based in Silchar, Cachar district in the state of Assam) who, like the characters in Yuva, are willing to bring a change in the society.

The change, however, will occur slowly but surely. These group of individuals (young guns) belong to an NGO, which is different and lack the characteristics of a typical NGO. ‘Umeedd A Better Tomorrow’ – is the name of that out-of-the-box NGO, which from its inception in the year 2014, has never looked back.

The word ‘Umeedd’ stands for hope and the phrase ‘A Better Tomorrow’ alone speak volumes about the aims and objectives of this NGO. Of late, Umeedd, one of the most popular NGOs of Silchar, of late, is focusing on minimising Child Sex Abuse (CSA) by spreading awareness among people about CSA through various forms of art, culture and music.

Umeedd’s street-play ‘Chitkar Kor Meye’ was about the evil effects of eve-teasing in the society. They conducted the street-play at some important points of Silchar. Most of the performers were students who volunteered this campaign against eve-teasing and sexual harassments. The play was directed by Anindya Sen, then assistant lecturer at the department of English, Assam University, Silchar.

Umeedd also came up with counseling and practical sessions on self-defence for girls and women of the town of Silchar. This unique way of educating the masses (of Barak Valley at least) about CSA has been Umeedd’s USP. The marriage of knowledge and art-culture-music to create awareness on CSA has been well-admired and well-appreciated.

From the very beginning, Umeedd has been organising seminars, street plays, live-sessions and interactive sessions on CSA and child pornography. They are hopeful that their efforts will bring a change in the people’s outlook, attitude and behaviour towards the children.

Umeedd has been doing a stupendous work. The way its members are working towards making people aware about CSA, is commendable and praiseworthy.

One of the most striking features of the NGO is that it’s members are talented, hard-working and above all determined to do something for the people and the society. They work for various causes and for uplift of the society.

Umeedd was founded by its present president Shamik Chanda, cultural activist, social worker, dance artiste, on September 12, 2014. He being an amiable and amicable boy, has been leading his team to bring positive changes in the society.

The article is a guest post published by Millichronicle to support and promote Umeedd and its activities.