Saturday Afghanistan held an election to replace President Hamid Karzai and saw strong turnout. Women were expected to play a key role, and that excites Khris Nedam. She has more than two decades experience in Afghanistan, including building a school and clinic.
Nedam is in town to speak to the Sarasota World Affairs Council Monday."In the last elections I had friends who worked with the women to get them out to the election polls. And there wasn't as much literacy that had gone into the country preparing for that election", Nedam said. "And there's been more time now -- nine more years of getting people in the schools, getting women educated. And seeing that as a key point, and that they're even talking about it and that they see women as an important swing in the elections is very exciting."
Final results aren't in yet, but Nedam says a good field of candidates and the lack of major violence are good signs for the country's future.