Two large black tablets stand in the lobby of CARE Canada's Ottawa office, bearing the names of a number of CARE employees who've lost their lives while providing assistance to those in need around the world. Fortunately, it's a memorial that Clementina Cantoni, an Italian CARE worker, just narrowly missed joining.

Ms. Cantoni was in Ottawa on Oct. 26 at the invitation of CARE Canada to talk about her work in Afghanistan. For three years, she managed the CIDA-supported Kabul Widows and Vocational Training program in Afghanistan (HAWA), providing monthly food rations for approximately 10,000 women who've lost their husbands during the many years of conflict in the country. The program is also focused on health projects and income generation, finding employment opportunities for the women.

But on May 16, 2005, Ms. Cantoni, a well-known figure in Kabul, was abducted from her car by several armed men. Her whereabouts remained unknown for 24 days. She was released, unharmed and without ransom, on June 9. Due to security concerns, the Italian government has advised Ms. Cantoni not to return to Afghanistan for one year, though she is keen to go back. She is currently on leave and is based in Milan, Italy.

Though her abduction was not the subject of her presentation in Ottawa, Ms. Cantoni did refer to it during her conversation with Aly-Khan Rajani, program manager of overseas operations at CARE Canada, in front of an intimate audience, including Omar Samad, Ambassador of Afghanistan; his wife Khorshied Samad; Alessandro Cortese of the Italian Embassy, and Flora Macdonald, former external affairs minister who is actively involved with NGOs around the world.

Looking a bit fragile and slightly nervous, Ms. Cantoni nevertheless was composed and spoke eloquently during the event, held in CARE Canada's candlelit boardroom, choking up only once at the start of the conversation as she spoke of the warmth and friendliness of the Afghans she met. Mr. Rajani has worked with Ms. Cantoni on site in Afghanistan and they discussed the pressing issues in Afghanistan, the work being done by CARE, and the challenges ahead.

Ms. Cantoni said that during her time in Afghanistan, she witnessed both positive and negative changes taking place. While women are more visible in society and girls are seen going to school -- a sight Ms. Cantoni says never ceases to bring her joy -- the disparity between those more skilled and well-off versus the less fortunate, less skilled and marginalized -- including widows -- is growing.

She says the best thing the international community can do for Afghans is to help each citizen find their place in the reconstruction. "Don't leave sections of society behind," Ms. Cantoni urged, noting that while it's a time-consuming and challenging task, it is fundamental to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. She told the story of a reclusive widow who, after finding a work placement, was a completely different person, happy and chatting with her colleagues, having found her place in society. "This is what we were trying to do before I was abducted," she said, "trying to stimulate education and help women get jobs."

Ms. Cantoni also called for more targeted investment in certain projects. "There needs to be a more careful, moral assessment of how money should be spent by donors, NGOs and governments," she says. "There is a growing sense of resentment from Afghans, questioning where aid money has gone, feeling that it has not trickled down to where it needs to go," she says. Ms. Cantoni called for more and better targeting of the vulnerable and marginalized citizens, to give them the skills to participate in society. She notes that her feeding program is not sustainable and that soon they will have to move away from the dependency model, but that this move will be gradual and careful. "We want to put the women at the centre of the decision to get off the rations, to get ready for the future," she says.

Following the conversation, Flora Macdonald provided a visual report on the widows program based on her annual visits there since 2001. Head of CARE Canada, John Watson, expressed his admiration for all involved in the HAWA project, including CIDA. Mr. Watson says he is proud that Canada's aid agency broke ranks with other donor nations, keeping its aid programs running while British and American programs shut their doors in Afghanistan.

Ms. Cantoni was scheduled to deliver a similar presentation on the plight of Afghan women at the request of CARE U.S.A. in Boston.