In 2009 and 2010, while serving alongside U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, Fahim Fazli worked with local farmers and communities, encouraging them not to grow opium and instead consider crops that could benefit their families and communities. He strongly encouraged farmers to grow corn and other food crops that could help feed people and create a healthier future. Fahim believed that working together, listening to local people, and giving farmers positive alternatives could make a meaningful difference in their villages.