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Nabi recently returned from Afghanistan, a trip I was advised not to take and didn't. Had I gone I would have spent most of my time in a hotel with intermittent electricity, a small TV broadcasting shows I wouldn't understand and cricket games, a game I haven't come to appreciate even after twenty trips to Kabul. Cricket is, however, a tad slow which happens to be to my advantage. I fall asleep quicker. In any event I would have been lying in my room with too many Snickers bars by my side while Nabi was out and about meeting with the children and families we're helping. That's the fun and rewarding parts of our trips.
The "To Do" list I gave him was longer than I thought possible to complete. It turns out I could have added more. Nabi left with letters from sponsors to the children they sponsor and five flash drives loaded with1,000 Khan Academy math videos we translated into Dari.
Nabi visited two of our community computer libraries, one of which is pictured below. This library opens at 6:30am and closes at 5:30 pm six days a week. During the day, classes are taught in computers, math, literacy and soon to be added, English.
They asked for additional shelving for the book case ($40) which we provided while adding more money to their budget to buy books the children are able check out and take home. This library is located in Wahid's home. We now have six libraries with a utilization rate of over 500 children a day. Plans are underway to add two more within a year.
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Smiles remain hard to come by. Wahid is seated in the middle and his wife, Ceba, one of our literacy teachers, is on the left.
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Nabi is a master at drawing children out and causing them to laugh. Note the size of the stones and man hours the wall would require. Wahid's house was built last year and he made sure there would be ample room for the library.
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Nabi met with the assistant to the acting Minister of Education. He was aware of TIE's work in Afghanistan, including the construction of the school for girls in Farza. He now has two of the five flash drives. Our goal is to make the math videos known and available throughout Afghanistan for free. Afghanistan's first lady also has one of the flash drives. A flash drive heard round the country? Why not?
Nabi also spent several hours with his fifth grade friend, Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, who now has an autographed copy of my book, with the message, "Never have so few been expected to accomplish so much". I've persuaded Nabi, one not given to public speaking, to share what he learned while in Afghanistan, during a talk I was invited to give by theWorld Affairs Council on April 27th. Details and a link to their website is below. You can reserve a seat in advance.
In addition to responding to questions you may have of Nabi he'll discuss Ashraf Ghani, the man, his challenges, and the world viewed from inside the Presidential palace looking out. Over several lunches with Nabi I've had an opportunity to learn about President Ghani and can assure you, you will be fascinated by what you learn that night. There's very little reporting about "the man" in our press.
Basir sent us a video of knits being distributed to children living in a refugee camp Click Here to Watch. We have distributed over 20,000 hand knitted items, most of which were donated by knitters inspired by Ann Rubin who is working with Afghans4Afghans. Note how disciplined the children are. It's not easy to remain in line watching others get what you want and not knowing what, if anything you will receive. I've been there and seen the disappointment when we run out of things to distribute. That doesn't happen with knits, however, thanks to the hundreds of knitters who have contributed over the years.
In response to several inquiries please note our next packing party will be in September. They don't really need warm clothing during the summer months which is why we pack in September. I still have room on my porch and Jil Plummer's garage, if you can't store your things until then.
Details of our evening together with the World Affairs Council:
WHEN: APRIL 27TH
WHERE: LAFAYETTE LIBRARY
TIME: 6:30 pm
TO RESERVE A SEAT Click Here
See you there. Invite your friends and neighbors. Our struggle for hearts and minds could use a few recruits. There are, by the way, 20,000 Madrasas schools registered with the government in Pakistan. They've had a head start in capturing minds, capturing being the operative word. Captured minds, however, through education, more often than not, become free thinking.
Budd
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