Memory center takes visitors through 4 decades of Afghan war

In this Tuesday, March 19, 2019, photo, Hameed Rafi, brother of the late Rahila, shows his sister's watch, during an interview with the Associated Press at the Rahila library, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Rafi says he’ll never forget the day he joined a panel of civilian war victims and family members and spoke about the suicide bombing in Kabul that killed his sister last August. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

In this Saturday, March 16, 2019, photo, Afghans look at the belongings of war victims stored in Memory center established by Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Launched in February, it seeks to salvage, protect and share memories and stories of civilian victims of the country’s four decades of war.(AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan rights group has launched a "memory center" that seeks to salvage, protect and share memories and stories of civilian victims of the country's four decades of wars.

Known as the Afghanistan Center for Memory and Dialogue, the place was established by the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization in February in the small basement of a rental house in west Kabul.

It contains exhibits reminding visitors of the years of carnage and loss, including drawings, garments, photos and toys with accompanying personal information such as names, places and causes of death or injury.

But the center is also a safe space for victims' families and friends to share their stories and preserve the memories of their loved ones — and realize they are not alone in grief.