A MESSAGE FROM RAWA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

Keep the Light of Hope Alive Support RAWA’s Orphanage Program

UNICEF and other sources say:
- 60% of children have lost at least one member of their family or close relatives

- Over 600,000 children sleep on the streets.- For every 50,000 there is only one physician

- 100,000 children are disabled - 60,000 children in Afghanistan are addicted to drugs- Over 37,000 children work and beg in the streets of Kabul alone

- There are about 8,000 former child soldiers

- An estimated one million are child labourers in Afghanistan.

These heart-wrenching statistics about the Afghan children have made the RAWA residential children’s projects the cornerstone of our social programs. The children have been the prime victims of the three decades of unprecedented wars and brutalities.They need help dealing with the trauma of homelessness, hunger, disability, and abuse.

If we educate and aid this next generation of Afghans to grow up in a peaceful environment,we can guarantee a prosperous Afghanistan.

With more than 20 years of experience in running children’s projects, RAWA has createda framework for the children that teach them to respect and love each other regardless of language, religion, race, sex, color, etc.

To learn more about the lives of the children in the RAWA orphanages, please visit: http://www.rawa.org/orphanages.htm CharityHelp International (CHI, http://www.charityhelp.org)/, a US based organization teamed with RAWA to launch the Child Sponsorship project in late 2004. This project enables people around the world to sponsor Afghan children. Today, the project is helping more than 200 children rebuild their lives in RAWA’s program.

As a sponsor, you can build a relationship with your child through regular exchange of emails containing text and photographs. In addition, you will also get regular updates about the orphanage program and events from CHI and RAWA with pictures and slideshows.

View a slideshow of child-sponsor communications here: http://www.charityhelp.org/rawa/slideshow1 Supporting these children is not only a gift to them as individuals; it is a gift to the world's future. Against staggering odds, they have made it this far, surviving as lights of hope through the darkest of nights. It is up to us to help them continue to shine.

”-Jennifer A. Hartley, CHI Board Membe

r Join us in keeping the light of hope burning through the darkest of nights!

For less than a dollar a day, you can provide on-going support to complement our childsponsorship program. To view the children who you can sponsor and communicate with on a regular basis,please visit: https://www.charityhelp.org/rawa. After you view these children, you can select one and sponsor this child using your own computer. Please note that we find we must increase the sponsorship rates due to the high inflation rate in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Although we are holding the existing rate until the end of this year, the new rates are going to be about $6 higher thanthe old rates. (In the last 6 months 1 kg of rice has gone from 33 to 75 rupees.)

Thank you for your continuing support.RAWA

Benazir & us

Dear Globe Editor,
I returned to the US from Pakistan on Dec. 19th. For three weeks I traveled extensively around Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and its surrounding villages. It amazed me to talk to such a variety of people with so many different opinions. One thing was consistently put to me wherever I went: “What is happening in the US? It is the greatest country in the world. What are they thinking?”

In order to find out the truth one has to make an extra effort, which means more than watching television and reading the local newspaper. Most of us are too busy and apathetical to make that extra effort.
Our press habitually presents a slant with reports of Benazir Bhutto as the shining star of democracy in Pakistan. The recent Globe article, “US efforts for stability in key ally are shaken” (Dec.28), on our government’s meddling in Pakistan’s politics, shows why our press has been so biased in favor of Ms Bhutto. Even before this terrible assassination, only her friends and fellow party members were quoted.

It was a terrible thing for her to be assassinated but not unpredictable. During her first public appearance in the country there were 20,000 troops guarding her within an armored vehicle. Yet a suicide bomber got within range of that vehicle. This next public appearance she was not so lucky. With her liberal political leanings and her ties to the US, it is extremely dangerous for her to be in public outside an armored vehicle.
It’s worth remembering we created al-Qaeda and this jihadi movement, along with Gen Zia, to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. We actively recruited, around the Middle East and Afghanistan, those who wanted to fight the godless communists. I met a retired Pakistan general of those days who said when asked by US state department officials what he thought of the idea of this recruiting said “It is a good idea but what do we do with them when we are done?” We didn’t care about that and pulled out as soon as the communist did. To this, the Pushtun have a saying: “If you leave a cesspool in your neighbor’s back yard, someday the mosquitoes will come and bite you”.

The people of Pakistan praise our country immensely but are continually puzzled by each step our foreign policy takes. Just after 9-11 the government of Pakistan, along with the US Ambassador in the country, requested $14 million to rebuild the schools of the North West Frontier Province and the Tribal Areas. They knew this was to be a war on ignorance and that lack of education was the root cause of the problem. President Bush turned them down. He found the slogan “war on terror” to be a more catchy slogan for his administration of calamity. My friends greeted me in Lahore in Nov. 2001 and said “It is good you folks are getting rid of the Taliban, but you won’t stay, there is no oil in Afghanistan”. We have stayed in Afghanistan, just barely and just enough to take one misstep after another.

When are the citizens of this country going to realize that our short-sited foreign policy is making this a more dangerous planet? Each one of us needs to actively do something to get us back on the path of world peace, a role we once dominated but have now squandered.

Rachel Williams

(Logo is of an organization which Peace Model School ( Muzaffarabad, AJK) founder Saeed Siddiqui is a member)

RAWA orphanage in trouble

In Peshawar I visited RAWA's Star Orphanage. There used to be 2 orphanages with a total of 105 orphans but one had to close and the other had to downsize due to lack of funds.

Pictured at top are all the orphans at the orphanage. Next is older girls helping younger kids to study. Just above here is the boys room full of studious boys. On either side are two of the top girls in their class and orphanage.


see - http://www.afghanwomensmission.org/programs/orph/
and - http://www.rawa.org/index.php

Most of the orphans were sent to the already overcrowded orphanage in Kabul. Only 35 kids could be afforded to remain. They only get meat, mile, or eggs once a week. They do get sponsored to go to the good quality Afghan school nearby. The orphanage has 2 computers in their computer lab but cannot afford to pay anyone to teach or upkeep the computers. One is now not even working.

In Rawalpindi I will visit another RAWA orphanage.

RAWA would like to build a new orphanage in Jalalabad if it could raise the funds. Jalalabad is presently the only peaceful place in Afghanistan right now. There is a Rotary Club there!
see - http://www.stevebrownrotary.com/Afghanistan/index.htm

Visiting with the villagers!

In between some of the locations we visited, I got a chance to hang our with the villagers. Sometimes we had english, sometimes we didn't. I do know some Urdu (the national language) but the hospitality here is so great that I never really have needed to learn much. My hosts usually speak better english that I do!

The two photos at the bottom are of raw sugar cane processing. The second one is of the cooking process within shed at the bottom. The big scooping hanging over the cooking pot is used to skim of the bubble on top as it simmers.

Planning of a new DOSTI school

Zamarud Shah, with school teachers, surveying the site of the future expansion of a school. Funded by a Canadian Pakistani, it will be 2 stories for grades 5-10 and include washrooms with the only septic tank in the area. The present school is grossly inadequate with only a fraction of space and desks needed.



The school is in a very rural setting near Charsadda in North West Frontier Province.

Preventative Medicine for Women

DOSTI has loaned a building and surrounding property to 4 doctors in Peshawar who have opened the only Health Care Center for Women in the area.
Launching a whole new frontier on the frontier is Dr. Fawzia, below in the middle, with her two lady health workers. They specialize in preventative medicine and visit 8 houses daily in the surrounding villages. They monitor women's health as well as social problems.
Most births in the area take place at home. These workers go out and find the women and babies and monitor the possibility of medical problems. Mother's blood pressure is checked monthly. Babies are monitored monthly until they are a year old, plus childhood vaccinations are confirmed.

They educate women on their health, including birth control, and issues concerning water and waste.

DOSTI schools around Peshawar

I took the bus from Peshawar to Rawalpindi and now have a computer with my photos so here are a few from my trails in the last few days:

Photo right is of Sufaidheri Dosti school. It is of the staff and teachers of the organization and school. At front left are Chief Executive and Founder, Tahira Shaheen on the far right is myself and Zamarud Shah, director and president of Rotary Club of Peshawar Unitown. To the left is one of the students at the school reciting a poem.

Schools in North West Frontier Province

Yesterday I met up with Zamarud Shah (Zam), President of Unitown Rotary Club here in Peshawar. Zam has facilitated many rotary projects including assisting the La Jolla RC (CA) in adopting Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
see - http://www.stevebrownrotary.com/Afghanistan/index.htm

Zam has recently retired and taken over as local head of DOSTI Welfare Organization. This organization is based in USA. Their mission statement is :

To alleviate the crippling effects of poverty on children - including abuse, and child labor - by providing high-quality education permeated with tolerance and respect. Dosti schools are committed to serving all children, regardless of their social, religious, or ethnic backgrounds. Dosti school development involves all sectors of society, especially women, and fosters the growth of healthy, economically-sustainable communities.

for more info See - http://www.dosti.org/
(alas I cannot download my great photos of todays trip so go to this website to see photos)

This is the perfect partner for Rotary International Matching Grants!!! We went to a number of their schools around Peshawar and then to a site out of town near Charsadda where they will be building a new school.

We also went to a building they donated the use of to a Preventative Care Clinic set up by four doctors in Peshawar. This clinic, in the village of Khazana, is the only one of its kind in the area. The female staff assist women in social and healthcare issues. A team of 2 female health worker go each day to 8 homes of rural women to check on their health as well as that of a pregnancy or a new baby. Most births take place at home and few women travel to clinics for regular checkups. In this way medical professionals can screen for possible problems, plus educate women on health, water and waste management.

Peshawar, North West Frontier Prinvince

Tonight I am flying from Lahore to Peshawar to meet rotarians for partnerships in MGs to help schools in the area. This war on terror is a war on ignorance. The best remedy for ignorance is education. Education brings the peace required for people to live the lives they desire plus it will make PolioPlus a success.

One rotarian I will meet is Zamarud Shah who is already doing a school. See http://www.rotary6060.org/overland/pakistan.htm

I am not sure that I will be able to get time on a good connection up there. I assure you it will not be dangerous. If anyone would like to call or text message me, my cell number is 92-306-411-4481.

I will be visiting the RAWA orphange in Peshawar as well as in Rawalpindi near Islamabad.
see http://www.rawa.org/orphanage.htm

On Thursday I will be with our partner club The Rawalpindi Rohtas Rotary Club to see their projects as well as the school in Kashmire. Hopefully by then I will be on a good computer and can work on this blog!

Kuger RCC becomes Sheikhapura Rotary Club!

After 2 years of taking the roll as the grass roots connection of the village to the Lahore Garrison Rotary Club, Kuger Rotary Community Corps evolved into the Sheikhapura Rotary Club! Sheikhapura is the closest town to Kuger. The club is a combination of the RCC and community business leaders in Sheikhapura. This will certainly make the next lap of The Buffalo Project alot easier.

Exactly one year ago to the day, I was at a gather of the 2 groups who were consulting with then District WCS Chair Shezhad Ahmed. They were asking him about the procedure on starting a new rotary club. He continues to direct them in their new club.

Just 3 blocks from the Sheikhapura meeting venue I was informed that I was the be he club's speaking and guest of honor at this, their 4th meeting!

Kujer - The Buffalo Project

The Buffalo Project started with an MG between Glenville (7190) & Lahore Garrison (3270) Rotary Clubs. Cow and calf are given to needy candidates selected by the Rotary Community Corps in the village of Kujer near Lahore. 30% of the revenue from milk, calves, and meat is given back to the RCC to assist with projects in the community. So far with this income the RCC has helped the village school and built a Computer lab for the community. Members of the Lahore Garrison Rotary Club and myself went to check on the recipients and their animals.

This project has been such a success that a bigger version of it is now in the works. District 7930 has donated $10,000 to this next MG.

FREE eye care : The Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust

LRBT has 11 (soon to be 14) teaching hospitals for free eye care & surguries. The hospital in Lahore has just received the funds from for a MG with Lahore Garrison (D 3270), Cambridge (D7930), & Ferney-Voltaire (France D1710) Rotary Clubs for $14,500 for 480 cataract surgeries. These hospitals are internationally ranked as one of the best for eye surgery & care. It is run on donations only as all procedures are free of charge. To see is to believe!

for more info see - http://www.lrbt.org.pk/lrbt/about_us.jsp

above are photos eye exam, operation and Head Surgeon Dr. Aqil Qazi with myself and Shezhad Ahmed of Lahore Garrison Rotary Club

for more on Lahore Garrison see - http://www.rotarylahoregarrison.org/

This dynamic club has 22 MGs to there credit!

Fatima Memorial Teaching Hospital

Next we visited the Fatima Memorial Hospital which was the recipient of almost a container of medical supplies from Medical Bridges in Houston. http://www.medicalbridges.org/
This MG 59694 ($24,950) was done with Lon Penna's club in Glenville, NY District 7190.

Photo on the left is Professor of Surgery Shamin Ahmed Khan, myself, Shezhad, and Deputy Director Dr. Syed K.J. Mahmood. Photo on the right is a pre-mature baby in a neo-natal unit.

Adopt-a-School

Today the District 3270 Subcommittee Grant Chair, Shezhad Ahmed, too me on a tour of some of his club's projects in Lahore. In the year 2000, the Lahore Garrison Rotary Club adopted the Lucklines Elementary School in Lahore Cantonment. The building was built in 1885 and needed repairs and basic necessities. MG 14842 for $16,056 was done with District 2430 (Turkey). The Lahore Garrison Rotary Club continues to assist this school as needs arrise.

Pictured above is Shezhad (also known as Zoro) 'teaching' the kindergarten class.

Plus first grade class and teacher.