In order to reach out to the large number of illiterate people in Afghanistan, civic education activities disseminate important messages about the upcoming 2005 Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council elections, through strong graphic based visual aids, including flipcharts, posters, leaflets, handbooks, and stickers. Civic education material is disseminated to the Afghan communities through two methods. Firstly, trained civic education staff (civic educators) conduct direct meetings with communities and explain the flipcharts and posters. Secondly, civic educators widely distribute posters, leaflets and handbooks in the community. These channels were very effective during last year's Presidential election public outreach campaign.

During the civic education campaign, the following activities are simultaneously conducted by all Public Outreach Officers and Civic Educators throughout the 34 provinces:

Community Mobilization Events (CMEs)

CMEs are designed to gain the support of influential community members such as mullahs, elders, tribal leaders, professional associations (teachers, doctors), and NGOs, to assist in the dissemination of election messages to their communities. This year's campaign will focus strongly on CMEs, enlisting influential members of the community to assist with the delivery of election messages. International and National Public Outreach Officers will conduct these events at the provincial and district level.

Face-to-Face Activities (F-2-F)

The face-to-face meeting is the main civic education activity of Public Outreach. It is conducted by Civic Educators, who visit communities to explain the election process. For the Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council elections, civic educators will visit communities twice: with one flipchart to explain the Registration period and then with a second flipchart to explain the polling process.

Briefings

Briefings are gatherings conducted in public places such as markets, public meeting places, parks etc. Briefings are interactive forums used to inform any given number of people about election information--from small groups to large crowds. Briefings typically entail question and answer sessions and the distribution of leaflets and flyers.

“On the Spot”

“On the Spot” activities aim to inform all eligible voters where and when the registration and polling sites are operating. These activities deliver voter education messages aided by handouts (leaflets, flyers, and booklets). This year, the “on-the-spot” activities will be intensive before the registration period starts, at the registration sites, and before elections in public and regularly frequented locations (i.e. bazaars, bus stations, common gathering places, etc.).

Mock elections and how to mark a ballot

Four to six weeks prior to Election Day, Civic Educators will conduct mock elections familiarizing Afghans with polling day procedures and demonstrating how to clearly mark the ballot papers. This exercise is imperative in order for people to have a clear understanding of how to mark the ballot on Election Day.

Materials Distribution

Civic education material such as posters, leaflets, stickers, brochures, and booklets is widely distributed. Material is developed in Joint Election Management Body Secretariat Kabul Headquarters and sent to the regional and provincial capitals, where it is distributed to the Afghan communities. Material is distributed during civic education meetings. Posters, stickers and banners are dispersed in shops, offices, hospitals and other public centers frequented by Afghan people.