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A trip to the fast lane and a slow lunch
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| The accelerated education program for girls
reinstated in March is located in Parwan, about one hour North of
Kabul. We visited the school on Monday. "Just the facts mam" are:
1.
120 students
2. To catch up with children their age the
girls must learn in one year what is normally taught in two. That means
no winter break and starting school at 6:30 in the morning instead of
8.
3. At noon they eat lunch at school. In
the afternoon they have the option of attending sewing or beauty school
classes. Tutoring is also available in the afternoon for students having trouble with any of the subjects taught.
4. A year from now, those who pass will be
integrated into the school system. Those who fail will be "aged out"
(not able to attend school in the future).
5.
These are the most accomplished and dedicated students I've met during
the five years I've been coming to Afghanistan. Aschiana knows how to
educate and meet the needs of its students.
The beauty trade can be a very lucrative business, that a woman must normally operate from her home.
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| During every visit, students have an opportunity to tell us what they want and need. At Parwan we were asked for computer classes by several students and the headmaster. It was their number one priority. Following our visit, we offered to provide the computer equipment and Aschiana agreed to provide a teacher. The search for a teacher has begun. One more wish will soon be fulfilled.
An item that is always on wish lists, is a request for us to help find ways for the students and their families to generate income. Invariably the conversation turns to embroidering and carpet weaving. They ask whether we could sell these items for them in the United States.
An essential and sometimes liberating skill
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These are very labor intensive products to produce, that I've penciled out before. Even when you eliminate a middleman or two, it's extremely difficult to pay much for labor and be competitive with products from other countries i.e.India and China. What would in fact be a favor would in all likelihood be perceived as taking advantage.
Then there are the styling and color issues to address. If I had been left alone to make these choices, I'd still be single wearing bell bottom trousers, beads and Birkenstocks. There aren't any women I know who are prepared to travel to Afghanistan, more than once. And, one visit does not an industry make.
A better solution is to provide start up capital to finance enterprises they can own and operate. TIE's microcredit program died because men don't pay back and it was very difficult to gain access to the credit worthy and more trustworthy sex. It will slowly be resurrected for the street children and their families. Getting street children off the streets and into schools is a double. If we can also enable their families to start and run a successful self sustaining business, that would be a home run. Aschiana has experience in funding microcredit enterprises and has offered to help. We told Aschiana that we'll set aside funds for a pilot program.
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| Since arriving, we've also visited the village of Farza, where "Zorah's school" for girls will be built. We met with all but a few of the 80 street children sponsored through TIE, the Minister of Economy, TIE's teachers , several classes, and Wasi, a village leader from Tangi Saidan.
Hats on for Vicki Ghulam and her friends who knit.
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Yesterday, I joined Nabi, and Mahmound Karzai for an hour and a half lunch with several members of the Afghan parliament. Less than 200 English words were spoken during the entire meal, over 50% of which were mine. Intelligent words, like "can I have a knife, this is good, what's this, and please pass the chicken kabob." I know four words in Dari; hello, goodbye, thank you, and Inshallah (God willing). I purchased the Rosetta Stone Farsi CD's three years ago and am still on lesson one. Old dog, new tricks, and random access memory limitations.
It's been a fascinating and extremely rewarding five days, and I'm generally too tired at night to write. I'll try and tackle another newsletter later, once I consume more sugar. The Snickers bars are gone. It's on to the Jujy Fruits with a Coke chaser.
Budd
"Barefootin" - more fun than shoes
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To view more photos go to
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