Paul Barker '71, M.A.T. '81

Paul Barker graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 1971 with a B.A. in History and in 1981 with an M.A.T. in Social Studies. Barker has been the Country Director of CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) in Afghanistan since 2001. Prior to this tour of duty (his second with Afghanistan), he was the Country Director in Ethiopia (1999-2001), Afghanistan (1995-1999), and West Bank/Gaza (1994-1995). He was also the Assistant Country Director in Egypt (1988-1990) and a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran (1971-1976).

During Paul’s first tour of duty in Afghanistan, the Taliban came to power. The Taliban banned women’s employment except in medicine, banned schooling for girls, and banned a host of other things—even down to the trimming of men’s beards. While Paul and CARE opposed the Taliban’s oppressive social restrictions, Paul carefully engaged Taliban leaders—speaking to them in their own language—to win an agreement for CARE to continue operating, even with women employees. When the Taliban objected to including the Afghani girls in the community schools CARE helped organize, Paul, a Quaker, used the teachings of Islam to aid the communities in defending their schools. The school program grew and girls were involved.

(Posted December 2005)