President Halonen Receives Arzu Rug

January 24, 2008

President Halonen and Ambassador Ware

Ambassador Marilyn Ware met with President Tarja Halonen on January 24 to present her a rug made in Afghanistan by weavers of the Arzu program. President Halonen is the first head of state to have received an Arzu rug. Arzu, meaning hope in Dari, is a not-for-profit organization that provides sustainable income to over 700 Afghan women by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave. The founder of the program, Connie Duckworth, visited Finland in November 2007.