Trust In Education
         
         GOING, GOING, GONE TO AFGHANISTAN


 
    Our first shipment to Afghanistan through the USAID Denton program has arrived in Kabul! That's 5,541 pounds of blankets, clothing, medical supplies, shoes, school supplies, and other gifts collected by fewer than 10 people, 7 months ago.  Raymond and I will help distribute these gifts in Afghanistan this mboys trying on coatonth.
    While there, I'll get a better sense of needs and will report back to everyone when we return.  May is "Spring cleaning month for Afghanistan". Several schools have already decided to join in. Send us an email if you would like to coordinate a drive or solicit donations from friends and neighbors. My porch and garage will soon be fair game again. Just drop things off and RUN!
 
                   Better Seeds, Better Fertilizer,
                      Better Yields,  Better Life

TIE seed truck
    140 farmers selected by 14 maliks (leaders) now have enough onion seeds and fertilizer to each plant one jerib (1/2 acre). The planting program went smoothly. That is, if you don't count the day the distribution was rained out , and the debate held by members of the shura (local council). Every assistance prograseeds on Bicylem is subject to challenge by those who are not on the recipient list. Someone invariably argues that if everyone doesn't receive assistance, no one should.
    A vote was taken and TIE's planting program was approved by the shura. One key to success is to involve the villagers and their leaders in the selection process and to make the program transparent and verifiable.  Truart in afghanst  takes much longer to cultivate than onions.


    








50kg or 110lbs of fetilizer on it's way home

                             Emmys and TIE?

       NBC's coverage of TIE by Michelle Toy has been nominated for an Emmy.  Congratulations NBC and Michelle! Thank you for your continuing interest in Afghanistan, TIE and positive news.

 
                   Where are the Nomads?

The search for sheep begins next week!  The cost of seeds and fertilizer doubled in less than a year. Now, if we only could have bought some "sheep futures". A report and photos of the sheep program will follow.

Budd MacKenzie
Trust In Education