Chairperson & Physician of Karez Association: Dr. Reshard Kared
I was born in Afghanistan in 1950. After graduating from high school, I came to Japan in 1969 as a government-sponsored international student. After completing Japanese language and foundational courses at Chiba University Preparatory School, I transferred to the Faculty of Medicine at Kyoto University, graduating in 1976. In 1984, I earned a Ph.D. from the same university.
Since 1976, I have accumulated experience as a physician. I served as Chief of the Respiratory Department at Shimada City Municipal Hospital in Shizuoka Prefecture. From 1989 to 1991, I worked as the team leader for the tuberculosis control project in the Republic of Yemen, implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
After returning from Yemen, I worked as Head of the Respiratory Department at Matsue Red Cross Hospital. Since 1993, I have established two organizations in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture—the Kenshi-kai Medical Corporation and the Shimada Welfare no Mori Social Welfare Corporation—and have served as their chairperson. I oversee the operation of Reshard Clinic, the Apollon Care Health Facility for the Elderly, the Asuka Special Nursing Home, and am involved in providing home medical care.
The devastation caused by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 continued to affect the country for years. Due to fighting with the Soviet army and the subsequent civil war, many refugees fled to Pakistan and Iran, where numerous refugee camps were established. During that time, I volunteered alone at a refugee camp in Pakistan, providing medical assistance.
In this context, in September 2001, following the terrorist attacks in the United States, the U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan caused many casualties. People in Japan responded to this situation by inviting me to numerous lectures to share the current conditions in Afghanistan. One such lecture, held in October 2001 in Shizuoka City, inspired many attendees to express their support for Afghanistan and to join forces in its reconstruction, leading to the founding of the NGO Karez Association.
The name “Karez” comes from a local term for underground water channels. For the people of Afghanistan, it symbolizes a life-giving water source, a source of healing, and the hope for the future. In 2013, the organization transitioned into an NPO, and in 2017, it obtained certification as a recognized NPO.
The Karez Association is supported by the generous contributions of everyone.