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I received an email from a supporter a few days ago saddened by the recent bombing in Kabul who wanted to know how everyone was faring and whether we had received any new or specific threats.
Suzanne had previously written to Qudsia after the bombing expressing her concern. For you new folk, Qudsia and her husband, Basir, are responsible for selecting and overseeing the one hundred plus street children who have been and currently are being sponsored through TIE. Below is Qudsia's response;
Dear Suzanne,
Thanks a lot for thinking of us .We are fine phisically But mentaly we are still in shock.
Many people lost thier lives and many more lost thier beloved ones .
It is sound was as huge as all residence of kabul heard .My daughters were crying in school while they heard the awful sound of it .My sister's office is just behind the place where blast happened for some hours we couldn't contact her it was really another shock for us ,but thanks God she is good ,but her office is partly damaged .
Thanks for your prayers .please keep us in your prayers we just need peace and place to live without any tension we don't want luxurious life our demand is only peace .
Once again thank you so much for your kindness and thinking for us .
Thanks,
Qudsia
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A universal request not achieved in Afghanistan for 37 years!
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THREATS AGAINST TIE
I'm often asked about threats and actions that have been made or taken against Trust in Education. I began visiting Afghanistan in 2005 after the school was built in Lalander. I've been there 20 times over the past 11 years (twice a year except for last year) . In all that time no one working for TIE has been threatened or attacked. No one has ever threatened or yelled at me. Not one of the 18 IDP camps we've supplied with food, clothing, solar cookers and other donations has ever declined our offer of help. They only wish we could provide more. Our six computer libraries are located in small communities and run by Afghans living in the community. The libraries now have a utilization rate of 600 - 800 children per day.
TIE is a highly visible non profit organization operating in multiple areas of Kabul. We openly support the education of girls and gender equality. Quite frankly I thought extremists would have threatened us by now. They haven't. They must have concluded that we should be allowed to continue.
My worry, other than for the safety of Afghans working for TIE, is that donors, current and potential, will conclude Afghanistan is out of control and becoming a lost cause. It's not. Moreover, no one can ever take away what thousands of Afghan children have and continue to learn in the educational programs we've supported over the past 14 years. Education is the solution to almost everything and we will keep our doors open for as long as we can. It's the least we can do given the role we've played in Afghanistan since 1979. What's that, you ask? That's one of the reasons I wrote "the book".
Enjoy the day. Turn off the news.
Budd
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