"Don't doubt yourself!" This is the advice that Navid* often gives when he is on the phone to people who have returned to Afghanistan from Germany or other European countries. "Many of them feel they've failed", he says. "They're ashamed to go back to their families in the countryside and often stay in the major cities like Kabul, Herat or Mazar-e Sharif."
Navid and his team provide advice by phone and online to help people establish new livelihoods for themselves. Among other things, they refer returnees to partner organisations who are active in the relevant towns, cities and provinces. The advice is provided as part of the "Returning to New Opportunities" programme that GIZ implements on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).