Kalu Shah School's new building

DOSTI Foundation USA has completed the building of new rooms for Kalu Shah School! The building is dedicated to DOSTI Foundation USA Vice President Aijaz Ahmad's father Aftabamad. The cost of the building was $11,000. It is fabulous to see the children enjoying the new rooms. Previously many of the classes were held outside!

To provide of other needs of the school a Rotary International Matching Grant has been approved and funds are being processed. The grant is a partnership of Rotary Clubs of Ipswich (MA.) & Greater Salem (N.H.), District 7930 and Rotary Club of Unitown Peshawar, District 3270.

Pictured here is Zamarud Shah of Rotary Club of Peshawar along with schoolmaster Mr.Islam Khan.

Below is Ipswich Rotarian/District 7930 Literacy Coordinator, Rachel Williams receiving flowers from the students!

Rotary Clubs around the world work for PEACE

Rachel meets with members of various Rotary Clubs
of District 3270 Pakistan & Afghanistan.
Left to Right:
Bashir Mirza (RC Rawalpindi Rohtas), Muzamil Zahid (RC Rawalpindi), Mazhar Shamim (RC Lahore South), DG 2010-2011 Shehzad Ahmed (RC Lahore Garrison), M. Iqbal Malik (Balil) (RC Sheikhupura Aarzoo), Rachel williams (RC Ipswich), Dr. Sakhiyya Sakhaullah (RC Lahore Faisal Town), Dr. Raja Ifrahim Satti (RC Rawalpindi), ??? (RC Rawalpindi ???), Anwar Batla (RC Lahore west). Note the lovely Rotary dress!!!





En route to Pakistan Rachel had the honor of presenting
to Ipswich Rotary Club UK. Increased in knowledge about how
literacy is linked to PEACE and fun was had by all!
Pictured here is Steve Runnacles with Rachel and Ipswich Club President and International Chair. Last summer Rachel and her husband Fred hosted Steve and his wife Belinda on the Ipswich to Ipswich RC exchange at their home in MA.

Education; the key to PEACE

Iqral School MG in Process with Rotary International

Phoenix School EarlyAct donates to Iqral School MG

Many thanks to the Rotary Clubs of District 7930 (Boston,MA & vicinity)
for their contributions of the success of Iqral Adopt-a-School Matching Grant #60855

These clubs are :
Salem
Peabody
Salem EarlyAct at Phoenix School
Manchester/Essex
Gloucester
Winchester

The Grant is now in process and Rachel is on her way to Pakistan!

Iqral School needs your HELP!

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION

Ipswich Rotary Club (MA,USA) has submitted an Adopt-a-School Matching Grant to Rotary International. The total needed for this project is $4796.00. So far only part of these funds have been raised. Through grants from the Rotary Foundation this project will become $17,137.00. Every $1 in this project will become $3.50.

Please send tax deductable donations to Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust, PO box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938. Mark the check "Adopt-a-School". This project will proceed from October and Rachel will go to see its progress in December '09 & '10. Every dollar will be accounted for.

Through Rotary we are empowered to change lives!

Iqral Model School : Adopt-a-School Rotary International Matching Grant

Through partnerships with other Rotary Clubs, the Rotary Club of Ipswich (MA) is looking to help this wonderful school in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Rotary knows that education and international cooperation is the key the PEACE!

Top photo is school staff and rotarians.

Iqral School was established in 1998 to serve the children of the poorest families in its neighborhood. The school now serves grade 1-10 and has an enrolment of 350 students. The schools main aim is to alleviate the effects of poverty through education and literacy programs.

The school principal, Ridwan Ullah Khan stresses quality education as well as equality for girls and women in education.

With more desks and a school bus from this grant, the school could host more students whose education is being neglected. Also included in this project are computers, improved science lab, and a generator. The electricity goes off most of the time so that the children spend much of the time sitting in the dark.

Books NOT Bombs!

Education is the answer to the problems of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Just ask a Pakistani or an Afghani!

How we can help : pressure our government to stop sending troops and dropping bombs. Help a school in the troubled area!

Our next school is Iqral School at Sarhderi near Charsadda, NWFP. I was there for an afternoon in Dec. The whole time, the students sat in the dark waiting for the lights to go on. Power in northern Pakistan is not dependable. They need a generator which can be modified and hooked up to be powered by gas. They also need books, desks, and computers. Every $1.00 we put in becomes $3.50 through grants from The Rotary Foundation!

Below are the students sitting in the dark:




Greg Mortenson on Rotary:
Rachel asks him about teaming up for literacy projects in Pakistan!

Kalu Shah funds completed by partnership

The Adopt-a-School Matching Grant for Kaluh Shah School is complete and ready to submit to Rotary International. Greater Salem N.H. Rotary Club has donated $1600, the last half of the fund needed! The students will get desks, blackboards, books, computers and trained teachers. Thanks to Ipswich and Greater Salem N.H. Rotary Clubs!

The Rotary Foundation will make each dollar into $3.5! Our $3300 will become almost $12,000.

Adopt-A-School in NWFP, Pakistan

Empower Kalu Shah School with a Matching Grant from The Rotary Foundation!

Pictured below are the children attending Kalu Shah School, in Takhbai, the school we are working on adopting. The students at the top, with their smart uniforms and inspired faces, are in the school we adopted after the earthquake in Muzzaffarabad, Kashmir, Pakistan. This is the look of children seeing computers in their school for the first time. With the improvements from our next Matching Grant, we will see this look on the faces of students at Kalu Shah. This is the look of hunger for knowledge and hope for the future!

This Matching Grant is a partnersip with the Rotary Club of
Unitown, Peshawar (Pakistan)
DISTRICT 3270

(pictured here with Ipswich International Chair, Rachel Williams)

Rotary Club of Ipswich (USA)
DISTRCT 7930

Funds required : $3300
Funds raised : $1400
Balance left to raise : $1900
Rotary Grant : $8250 *
Project Total : $11,550 (At 3.5 times original amount $1.00 becomes $3.50)

This Matching Grant will supply desks & chairs, blackboards, teacher training, computers, books, and water well sanitation (first in this village).

If you would like to help with this Rotary International Humanitarian Project please send email to rachfit@mindspring.com or you could send a check to Ipswich Rotary Club marked "Adopt-a-School" mail to PO Box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938

American Historians agree with RAWA

US troops are one of the major problems in Afghanistan today. US military actions are major recruiting tools for the Taliban.
The present situation is not better than it was under the Taliban. The majority of the government is made up of criminals. There is no security and thus women do not have rights unless they are a small minority of the wealthy living in Kabul. For more info see : http://www.rawa.org/index.php

See interview of Pierre Sprey & Marilyn Young :

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01302009/watch.html

Sarah Chayes : Kandahar resident

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/12192008/watch.html

Descent Into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/10/descent_into_chaos_ahmed_rashid_onThis This a must read!
Start the video at 17.15 minutes to see his interview.