Day 2 -- The Downloading Begins
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Nabi and I
met with Basir and Maiwand this morning (Saturday) and learned the following:
1. The Taliban have visited families living in Lalander, after
dark. Villagers have, among other things, been warned to not work or cooperate
with the government. Surprisingly, families have not been told to discontinue
sending their daughters to the two home school classes TIE provides. Girls are
not being taught at the schools in Lalander, including the school TIE funded. For
now, the solution continues to be to make education available for the girls, in
homes. I will meet with one of the teachers, Lailuma (pictured below) later
this week. She'll have the inside report.
Lailuma --- never underestimate the power of one
2. Maiwand,
with the help of villagers in Tangi Saidan, located land that we will be
able to lease in the spring for a soccer field. Negotiations are underway for
the terms of that lease. We already know the cost ($600 a year). Soccer fields
are no brainers. Find some land, level it, and put in a couple of goal posts.
Then hire someone to run a before and after school soccer program, supply
soccer balls, shin guards, soccer shoes, and
soccer uniforms.
Voila!! fun
and exercise for the children for less than $2,000.
Once this soccer field is ready Tangi Saidan's and Lalander's teams will
be able to play each other. If you recall, we funded the construction of a
soccer field for Lalander years ago and TIE has supported a soccer coach ever
since. ($25 a month) . These costs are ridiculous, aren't they?
3. Basir
and Maiwand have met with the staff of the United Nation's refugee program for
the Kabul district. They, we and others are making a concerted effort to
coordinate aid this winter to avoid duplication. I'm hoping to meet with them
today or tomorrow. We have 518 buckets of rice ( 85,380 meals) and 350
boxes of clothing, shoes, blankets etc. to distribute!!
-- a
logistical challenge (aka nightmare)
4. The
schools are closed, as a preventive measure against the swine flu. How can
there be swine flu in a country where you can't get bacon and eggs or a
good BLT sandwhich?
There's
more to report but it's kabob time in Kabul.-- Love the rice with the
raisins!!!
Advice for
the day:
Stop where
you are, kneel down, and kiss the ground. That's what I'm always tempted to do
when I get off the plane in San Francisco. We are
soooooooooo fortunate!!!!!!
Budd
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