Yesterday, Basir, one of our program directors in Kabul, took Nabi and I to visit Aschiana, a nonprofit organization in Kabul that received and distributed some of our clothing last November. We were fortunate to meet with it's founder.
Aschiana has taken on this problem. An estimated 60,000 children work on the streets of Kabul, begging, selling gum, looking for scrap metal, shining shoes, and doing whatever it takes to survive. You know what that includes. Often street children are the major breadwinners in their families. Aschiana's goal is to educate children to the point where they can be integrated into the school system. It also provides vocational classes, including woodworking and art, enabling students to generate income while attending Aschiana. The children receive 20% of the income derived from what they produce. I'm bringing some wood and art work home to show students in the United States.
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We spent over two hours distributing knitted hats, artwork from American children, and Girl Scout cookies. Yes, Girl Scout cookies in Kabul! The cookies were sent to Greg, a Navy commander stationed at Blackhorse camp outside Kabul. He gave them to me to give to Afghan children. I visited Greg at the camp and will share that experience another day. Greg is in charge of the Navy's fleet in Kabul. He's still trying to find the harbor.
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I asked enough questions while at Aschiana to realize that this is an organization TIE should support, with more than clothing. One way I agreed to help is to participate in their sponsor program. For $260 a year a sponsor enables a street child to attend school and stop working on the streets. A street child's freedom from the streets can be purchased for $20 a month!!!!!
To receive $20 each month, families must agree that their child will no longer work the streets and that the child will attend school The activities of these children are monitored and their attendance at school is verified by their teachers. If a sponsored child is found working on the street or misses school, Aschiana sends someone to address whatever problems there may be. It's very seldom that the child prefers the streets to the classroom.
Aschiana recently added two classrooms devoted to physically and mentally handicapped street children. Their integration into the regular school system presents the same challenges faced in the United States, and more. Most Afghan schools don't have the resources to handle the children who aren't handicapped. The fact that Aschiana took on this additional challege is proof positive of its love for all children.
 
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I committed Trust In Education to sponsor 10 students for at least a year. We will independently monitor the progress of each child and relieve Aschiana of the need to interface with sponsors who sponsor through TIE. It is absolutely impossible to be with these children without offering to help. Why only 10? It's enough for us to determine how well the program works and how much work will be involved for TIE. This will be a very popular and direct way for people to give. A friend has already offered to sponsor three children. Surprisingly though, there is a waiting list of children hoping to be sponsored.
Once again this is turning out to be the most rewarding and productive trip I have taken to Afghanistan, since I began six years ago. I have several more stories to report and photos to share. But, there's a lonely box of See's chocolate in the corner crying out for attention. Man can not live by kabob alone nor suffer the absence of chocolate indefinitely. It's been six days and the seal is being broken tonight. I don't know what it takes to be listed as an addictive substance, but the See's carmel with almonds should be near the top of the list.
More to follow:
Budd
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To learn more about Trust In Education go to www.trustineducation.org
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