EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Farid Ahmad, a program coordinator for agricultural groups in Afghanistan, explains what living conditions were like in Afghanistan during Taliban rule. He and five other Afghani citizens earned Fulbright fellowships to pursue their studies in American universities, including the UA's Center for English as a Second Language.

A. Ghafoor Liwal feared for his life in Afghanistan.

In 1999, the Taliban threatened Liwal, a journalist, and his news agency while he was researching a human rights group, because Taliban members were angered by the work the group was doing.

"The human rights issue was a hard issue because of all the violence," Liwal said.

Liwal said he knew the Taliban cut off the hands of disobeyers and beat them. Concerned for his life, Liwal moved from Kabul to Pakistan, and then relocated to the United States.

Now more than two years after the Taliban's defeat, Liwal, a Humphrey Scholar, is studying at the UA, hoping to bring the United States' free press back to his homeland.

Liwal is one of six Humphrey Scholars from Afghanistan who are studying English at the UA for six months.

The students all said they came to America to increase their knowledge of subjects such as economics, foreign affairs and computer literacy in order to contribute to the development of Afghanistan.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, part of the Fulbright Scholar Program, brings international professionals to the United States. According to the Institute of International Education Web site, the fellowship establishes relationships with people of other countries to exchange knowledge.

The UA Afghan students were awarded the fellowship because of their professional achievements and public service.

Ata Yari, an assistant professor at an Afghan university, said the educational facilities, as well as the methods of teaching, are of a better quality in the United States.

"Here it is participation learning," Yari said.

Shukoria Kazemi, who worked for the Women's Network, an organization that provides leadership training and gender workshops for women, said her goal is to provide a voice for the women of Afghanistan. She conducted gender trainings and leadership workshops for the women of Kabul, but after Sept. 11, 2001, Kazemi had to immigrate to Pakistan with her sisters.

"It had a bad effect for all people," she said, adding that more than 200 women were persecuted by the Taliban. "(Women) cannot present themselves in society."

Although Kazemi said she understands that it takes time to give women their rights, she plans to return to Afghanistan to use her acquired skills for the Women's Network.

The students, who are adjusting to life in America, said cultural differences have not been a significant problem.

But Niamatullah Ehsan Jawid fondly remembers his visit to a Mexican restaurant on his first day in Tucson. Since the students could not understand the menu, they ordered food based on the pictures.

"In the picture it was good but not in real life," Jawid said with a laugh.

Jawid, who worked as a UN personnel officer, said he left his wife and children to come study in America. Yari said this is a reflection of the improvement in Afghanistan.

"Before, males could not leave family because security was so bad," he said.

Farid Ahmad, a program coordinator for Afghanistan agricultural groups, added that now women are allowed to work and earn money.

But Liwal said there is still no unity or organization in the Afghani government. The newly established government is also lacking resources, he added, which leads to a low productivity rate.

"They cannot address all the needs of the people," he said. "They need to motivate outside people to come."

Saturday, Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan, announced that the country's first elections since the defeat of the Taliban would be

postponed for three months because of security concerns and registration delays.

Kazemi said Afghanistan has "professional experts," but many accept jobs with the United Nations instead of staying in Afghanistan.

Although Abdul Ghias Tokhy, who worked for the UN Minister of Finance, said Afghanistan used to be a "lesser manÎs country," the Afghan scholars are optimistic about the future.

"I came here to study to have something to take back with me," he said. "We need to change economical sources in Afghanistan."

Yari said bringing peace and structure to Afghanistan requires international cooperation and community interaction.

"After 25 years of intensive conflict and after the regime, people built a new life," he said. "But we will keep struggling to help the people."