Mary Lu Christie: Journey to Afghanistan
By Nazneen Malik
Mary Lu Christie is
a busy woman with a purpose. After working 25 years as a
successful lawyer in California, she decided to return to
her first job as an educator, albeit in a distinctly different
setting—Afghanistan. Since 2001, Christie has
been an active presence in Afghanistan and continues to play
an instrumental role in developing educational programs for
Afghan women and children.
Growing up in the small
town of Bath, New York, Christie always had lofty ambitions
and was not prepared to resign herself to the traditional
career paths of the women in her community. Christie credits
her mother for making it possible for her to realize her
dreams and in 1967, Christie graduated from Barnard College
with a degree in Classical Greek. She then got her Master’s
from Bank Street College in Early Childhood Education and
taught in New York City public schools for five years. Slightly
disillusioned by the educational standards of the public
school system, and in search of better pay, she enrolled
in the Hastings College of Law
in California. Christie worked as a public defender in California
before finding her niche in firms specializing in employment
and labor law. “I grew up in a poor family with a single
mother,” says Christie, so making money was important, “but
I always wanted to return to being an educator.” Teaching
in Afghanistan, however, had never entered her mind. It was
not until she read an article published in the National Geographic
Magazine prior to 9/11 about Ahmed Shah Massoud, a famous Mujahadeen
and leader of the Northern Alliance, that her interest in Afghanistan
began to grow. Impressed by Massoud’s story, Christie
began to cultivate an interest in Afghanistan’s history
and peoples.
Christie learned about
Women for Afghan Women (WAW), an organization that supports
small local Afghan organizations, at a presentation at Barnard
College in December of 2001. By then, she had grown tired
of her work and felt a burgeoning desire to do something
more rewarding. Having no monetary or familial constraints,
Christie made a sudden decision to quit her job and join WAW.
Within four days, Christie had sold her house and moved to
New York City. Her decision to leave behind a successful career
and an expensive house, however, was not half-baked. She realized
that she had not taught in 25 years and would need some credibility
in order to resurrect her former career. At 57, she went back
to Bank Street to complete additional coursework with the counsel
of her former advisor, Lea Gel. A few months prior to leaving
for Afghanistan, she studied Dari, the language used by Afghan
businesses and universities. Christie worked with the Global
Exchange Group, Afghan Institute for Children, which has developed
preschools in Kabul, the Afghan Friends Network, and Catholic
Relief Services (CRS). In conjunction with CRS and local organizations,
Christie has helped develop early childhood education programs
in villages north of Kabul. She currently works as a consultant
for CRS and conducts teacher-training workshops. “Men
don’t teach women,” says Christie, “so if
women don’t learn, nothing will happen.” Her proudest
achievement, she states, was conducting half-day daycare programs.
These workshops focused on allowing pre-school age children
to draw pictures as a form of reading rather than making them
write down their alphabets. “The people are so appreciative,” says
Christie, and “so thirsty for education. Everyone came
to the last workshop.” Nevertheless, there are substantial
educational hurdles. Funding for these programs is still an
issue. There has not been an educational system in twenty years,
says Christie, and educational efforts need to be better coordinated.
When Christie returns to Afghanistan in March, she will visit
schools in the Gazni province and help develop primary school
curriculums. She has come full circle and remains fiercely
dedicated to rebuilding the Afghan early childhood and primary
educational systems.#
To make a donation, please visit womenforafghanwomen.org
