Rachel REACHING for PEACE

Ethan Casey

2011-12-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/02/we-are-free-to-choose-peace.html

Peace Poem from a young schoolboy

2011-08-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

MAKE PEACE

Poem by schoolboy in northern Pakistan

Make Peace, Make PEACE

Peace will give war a defeat.

We want a happy world,

But can only give us hurt.

We don’t fuel an exchange of blood.

Make Peace, make PEACE

We can’t see an eye filled with tears.

We cannot hear bad news from a place so dear.

Make Peace , MAKE PEACE!

Nic Kristoff on Greg Mortenson

2011-04-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

These are also my thoughts on Greg :

Rotary Scholarships Sponsors Girls!

2011-04-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

This is Rachel last month in Peshawar standing behind
the 3 girls sponsored by Portsmouth Rotarians!

Many thinks to Rotary Clubs of Ipswich & Hamilton/Wenham for their generous donations!
We will be able to sponsor 15 girls for this coming year that starts this month!

Also, thank you to the members of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, NH for their contributions!

Selection of candidates was based on individual financial situations as well as who had the greatest determination to remain in school with parental consent.

This project is to encourage older girls to complete their high school education with the possibility that they may even look toward attending college. Often in this area of Pakistan, girls are pulled out of school by their parents due to the increased expense of classes as well as the possibility of premature marriage.

Education for girls at this stage in their life is essential in transforming society. The more education girls in this troubled region get, the less domestic and local violence will occur; chances of infant and maternal mortality also are greatly decreased. It has been shown repeatedly that in developing countries, the greater the number of educated women, the more civil the society is. Education empowers women with rights and independence in any culture or religion.

Back in Peshawar

2011-03-19T08:59:00.001-07:00

I am back in Pakistan and being welcomed with the greatest hospitality wherever I go. It is a shame about the terrible drone bombings as well as the murder of the ISI agents by the US CIA agent but people know that does not involve me, nor Rotary. Here I am at the first of a number of school graduation ceremonies where I have been able to give away the prizes to the students.

We are starting a scholarship fund for girls, and donors from Hamilton/Wenham & Portsmouth Rotary Clubs have stepped forward with generous donations. The photo at the school gate is of myself with some of the recipients of the scholarships which will start next month!

More sooooooon!

There is ALWAYS something you can do!

2010-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

For the most efficient ways to help
send tax deductable donations to -

in Pakistan :

"Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust"
mark "Pakistan Flood Relief" on the check.
Send to the Ipswich Rotary Club, PO Box 543,
Ipswich, MA 01938

in Afghanistan :

helpwomenheal.org

Afghanwomensmission.org

charityhelp.org/afceco

Plus, educate your elected officials
and those around you to the reality
of the situations!

Do not rely on television to
keep you informed ....

Winter to worsen threats against children: Unicef

2010-12-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

The News : Pakistan
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Our correspondent
Islamabad

More than four months after the worst floods in the country’s history, Unicef warns that winter will worsen the threats against Pakistani children who already suffer high rates of acute respiratory infections and malnutrition.
New polio cases are spreading rapidly with 126 this year compared to 89 in 2009 — an enormous cause for concern especially as Pakistan had made significant strides towards eradicating polio. Pakistan is one of the four polio endemic countries in the world, and low ongoing coverage in areas experiencing difficult security in the north, overcrowding, and poor sanitation as a result of the floods have exacerbated the threat for children.

“This crisis is far from over. It has just evolved in very different ways from one part of Pakistan to the next, and the humanitarian effort has had to adapt swiftly to reach children and women most in need as their needs change,” said Daniel Toole, Unicef’s Regional Director for South Asia. “Although most people have returned to their home areas, many have returned to near total destruction — with no homes, no crops, no food and no cash. In the north, snow has fallen and we are delivering winter clothes and supplies to help families prepare for a harsh winter, while in the south very slow receding waters have meant over a million lives are still on hold. The coming cold months will sharply increase the numbers of respiratory infections and malnutrition, two of the biggest killers of Pakistani children.”
One-fifth of Pakistan’s land area was ravaged by the monsoon floods that affected 20.3 million people. Some 10,000 schools and rural health centres were damaged by the floods, and important infrastructure was destroyed or badly damaged, including water and sanitation systems, bridges and roads.

In preparation for winter, Unicef has started to distribute warm children’s clothing and blankets. However, millions of families still need assistance in the form of water, medicine and nutritional supplements to survive the coming months, especially those living in the north of the country as harsh winter conditions approach.
UNICEF needs $82.1 million if it is to continue with its life-saving and recovery programmes in Pakistan. In addition, to expand urgently needed support to improve widespread malnutrition and to stop polio spreading, additional urgent funds are required for continued needs in 2011.

Things are worse in Afghanistan....

2010-12-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

This year alone 700 NATO troops have died and a much greater number of Afghans.

Here is a radio program done by Sonali Kholhatkar of the Afghan Women's Mission:

http://uprisingradio.org/home/?p=17809
(I am sorry but you will need to copy and past this elsewhere to listen!)

Pakistanis love to discuss politics with Americans

2010-12-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

In Pakistan, politics is a national sport, like cricket. The political scene in this country, as well as the rest of the world, is always followed very closely by the majority of the population. There are over 30 different political debate programs on local TV stations.

The only government they dislike as much as their own is the government of the USA. They know much more about American Foreign Policy than many Americans do. They look forward to discussing politics with each and every American they meet.

The myth of "anti-American sentiment" is in reality, "anti-American Government sentiment". Pakistanis love Americans and are politically astute enough to differentiate between the citizens of a country and their government. When I travel, I always let people know that I am an American and end up in interesting and educational conversations.

When I travel I am never in any danger! If I am by myself and anyone even looks at me cross-eyed, bystanders would jump in to help me immediately.

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF!!!!!

Distribution of the Kitchen Recovery Kits

2010-12-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

On the morning of Dec.8, fellow Ipswich Rotarian Christyne Vachon and I distributed 50 of Kitchen Recovery Kits in the yard of DOSTI’s Tangi School. Also with us for the event was members of our partner club the Rotary Club of Unitown Peshawar, Zamarud Shah (brown suit jacket and sunglasses) and Mansoor Kahn(short beard and hat) Villagers of the Charsadda region of North West Frontier Province (now known as Kyber-Pakhtunwa or KPK) were picked out according to who was in the direst need.

Helping with the giving were also teachers and students of the local government school. The teachers worked as volunteers to run the DOSTI Tangi School for the poorest children.

I had looked forward to a happy experience of giving but felt immensely inadequate in the face of the massive loss suffered by the people at the gathering. One of the great moments I felt at the end of the event was when the last of my small speech was translated to Pashtu. I had said at the end that we Rotarians in American know that we are all alike. To see all those bearded men with their turbans and robes nod their heads in agreement brought tears to my eyes!

Purchase of the kits suffered from incredible and unprecedented inflation as prices were quoted 4 months ago. The size of all items shrunk by about 30%. The Federal Bureau of statistics reported in an article in today’s paper that from Oct. 2009 to Oct. 2010, prices win went up on the following items in the kits by : 80% for sugar, 160% for lentils, 10% for cooking oil, 14% for compressed natural gas, plastic products 13.7%, 6.5% for rice, 3.2% for flour. This inflation is due to lack of government infrastructure, massive flooding which damaged 30% of the nations crops, inflated transport costs, as well as a shortage due to the smuggling of essential items to Afghanistan where even greater prices can be obtained.

Pakistan Flood Recover - KITCHEN RECOVERY KITS

2010-11-15T06:24:00.000-08:00

Two Million people have lost everything they owned in the recent floods in Pakistan...
Urgent assistance in needed in this already volatile region.

ROTARY IS THERE & ROTARY CARES!
Partner clubs are on sight working hard at this moment to assist those in need lest their region implodes.

Ipswich and Unitown Peshawar Rotary Club, are partnering to supply
Kitchen Recovery Kits
These kit consist of : gas cooking cylinder & burner,
pot, plates, cups, soap, cooking oil, 5 kilo bags of sugar, flour and rice. Each kit will ensure that a family will have clean drinking water and cooked food to maintain daily health during the recovery. Items will be of permanent use upon moving to a future location.
Price $79

Tax deductable donations can be made via checks to the Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust noted "Pakistan Flood" and mailed to the Ipswich Rotary Club,
PO Box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938
more info : Rachel Williams, International Chair
tele : 978-372-1106 or email : literacy7930@mail.com

ROTARY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!

2010-10-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here's how:

Partners in Pakistan

2010-08-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Our partner Rotary Club the Rawalpindi Rohtas Rotary Club is working hard to help those suffering in the floods. We will wire funds directly to them so that action can be take immediately. Directions on how to donate directly to those in the flood, along with photo of Zahid Mirza and his son helping, is in the previous post.

More photos at http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/severe_flooding_in_pakistan.html

at :

FLOODING in PAKISTAN

2010-08-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

In Pakistan flooding has already stranded 20 million people, more than 10 percent of the population. A fifth of the nation is underwater. More than 3.5 million children are in imminent danger of contracting cholera and acute diarrhea; millions more are in danger of starving if they don't get help soon. More than 1,500 have already been killed by the floods.

This is a human disaster. It's also a frightening opening for the Taliban.

The 5000 rotarians in Pakistan are working full time, with their own personal income to assist the afflicted.

If you would like to help by getting a donation to where it will help, your tax deductable donation can be made in the form of a check to the Ipswich Rotary Charitable Trust, noted “Pakistan Flood” and mailed to Ipswich Rotary Club, PO Box 543, Ipswich 01938. Funds will be wired regularly by the Ipswich Rotary Club to their partners, the Rotary Clubs of Rawalpindi Rohtas and Unitown Peshawar.

Iqral School MG in Process with Rotary International

2010-02-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

District 7930 Celebrates Literacy Month of March, Internationally!!

Matching Grant for Iqral School in Sardheri, near Peshawar, in North West Frontier Province is now receiving items from the project. Total contribution for the project was $5000. This amount was increased by The Rotary Foundation to make up at total of $US17,000.

Ipswich, Greater Salem,NH, Peabody, Salem & Salem EarlyAct,
Gloucester, Manchester/Essex, Winchester Rotary Clubs

Watertown Rotary Club of District 7910 also contributed.

all contributed to MGs to empower schools for the poor in Pakistan!

Pictured here is:
the new generator to keep the lites on!
bus to bring more girls to school
computers to teach future skills and vocational training
& science equipment for better science education.
also on the way are locally made wooden desks and chairs.

DOSTI Foundation VP visits Ipswich & Greater Salem, NH Rotary Clubs

2010-02-21T07:34:00.000-08:00

DOSTI Foundation vice president, Aijaz Ahmad paid a visit to the 2 clubs in District 7930 who sponsored the Matching Grant for Kalu Shah School in the Charsadda area of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Through the DOSTI Welfare Association in Peshawar, Aijaz Ahmad donated funds to build the new school for Kalu Shah. The two Rotary Clubs, just north of Boston, teamed up with Unitown Peshawar Rotary Club to do a Matching Grant to buy desks, computers, blackboards, books and the first sanitation system in the village.

Aijaz is pictured here, in center with glasses:
Bottom photo is Rotary Club of Greater Salem,NH with President Rick Incollingo 4th from left.
Just below is Rotary Club of Ipswich where Aijaz is seated center with club presidet Bob Markel on left and International Chair Rachel Williams on right.

Kalu Shah School's new building

2009-12-18T03:22:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-12T21:37:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-02T13:06:00.001-08:00

Iqral School MG in Process with Rotary International

2009-12-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-07-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-14T10:58:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

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

Descent Into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid

2009-01-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

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.

Displaced people from Afghan/Pakistan border

2008-12-18T04:30:00.000-08:00

We went to the camp where we had given medicines! $1440 was collected from friends and Rotarians in US & Singapore for medicines. These were bought in Peshawar and distributed by Relief International at the camp for displaced people from Bajour, one of the Tribal Territories.

These are photos of people in the camp. Not many people were left since most had been moved to another camp closer to Peshawar.

Below are sewing & literacy classes for girls and women, something they never could have had at home in Bajour. The women were uncovered and very friendly until I took my camera out.

The Pakistan government estimates 190,000 people have been displaced by the fighting but Relief International says it is 300,000.

These people will not be able to return home for a long time. Most houses and farmland have been destroyed. The Pakistan Army says it will take only a few more months to eliminate the rebels. This is not about religion but about uneducated people empowered by drugs, who ravage most of Afghanistan as well as across the border into Pakistan. Al Qaeda is also hiding out in FATA so American drones are bombing certain targets.

Peshawar

2008-12-16T02:03:00.000-08:00

Peshawar is not the same as before. People are afraid and you can hear military planes flying over at all hours. I spoke to a guy from UNCHR and he said this is the first time he has seriously starting to consider leaving his own country. He is worried about the future of his children if he stays here. One lady said she used to walk for exercise every day but now she is afraid to go out.

I am staying with Rotarian Zamarud Shah. We have just submitted a Matching Grant application partnering my Rotary Club, Ipswich, with his club, Unitown. The grant is to help a school near Charsadda, closer to FATA (Federally Administer Tribal Agency). It has rooms but no desks or trained teachers. Among the things the grant will provide are a well, washrooms, computers, teacher training, & books. Our partnering organization is DOSTI. We went to one of their better schools today.

A beautiful Day

2008-12-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

I brayed at this baby donkey and he thought I was his mother until he saw I only had 2 legs! Had him fooled for a minute...

Photo above left is myself with Shehzad and new Rotarians. Next is Bali, the head of the Kujer Buffalo Project, and a villager. Bali got married on Nov. 22, 2008.

This photo is the villagers cooking the sugarcane water into a thick sweet paste for us to eat.

These are Shehzad & Maimuna's lovely kids!

Maimuna

Shehzad, also known as "ZORO"

We went to Kujer on a lovely day with a clear blue sky! This is something many of us take for granted, but in developing counties often the atmosphere is clouded by smog and dust...

It was a trip with Shehzad & Maimuna Ahmad and their children, plus his father and his brother and sister and their families. The Kujer villagers made us sugar in every form you can imagine. Chewing the juice out of the stalk and drinking the juice were most popular.

Shehzad is not only incoming District Governor for Rotary District 3270, he is also an inspiration to many others to start Rotary Clubs. Representatives from four new clubs came over to shake his hand!

Lunch was served on tables out in the farm field where they had just harvested a fresh crop of sugar cane. This they served to us in numerous ways, all of which were very tasty.

American in Pakistan

2008-12-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I arrived in Pakistan. It is a holiday and things are quiet in Lahore. Only bad news sells so there is always way to much bad news going around!

Today I rode 2 horses at the Lahore Polo ground. Tomorrow morning I will have the honor of an annual visit to Kuger, with the family of Shehzad Ahmed (Rotary District 3270 incoming governor for 2010-2011). Kuger village is the sight of the wonderfully successful Buffalo Project of Lon & Helen Penna. For more info see : http://helenstravels.com/WaterBuffalo.html

I call Shezhad "Zoro" because he is the initiator, organizer & problem solver for so many wonderfully successful profects including my first Matching Grant for Revolutionary Association for the Women of Afghanistan. For info on RAWA see http://www.rawa.org/index.php

For info on Zoro see his club website :

$1,420 collected!

2008-11-25T14:05:00.000-08:00

In spite of the worrisome economic situation here in the US, $1,420 has been donated for medicines to assist the displaced people from Bajour. These funds will be transferred immediately from Ipswich Rotary Club to Unitown Peshawar Rotary Club past president Zamarud Shah to arrange for the purchase of wholesale medicines, supplies and transport to the camp new Charsadda.

Latest on suffering of the innocent in northern Pakistan

2008-10-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

Pls see this article from the New York Times.

Go to Oct. 1 post if you would like to help these refugees.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/world/asia/03pstan.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Urgent appeal for refugees in FATA, Pakistan

2008-10-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

In war it is always the helpless, poor and the innocent who suffer. These photos are of a newly started refugee camp in desparate need of help. The doctors are from Relief International who are in need of medical supplies to help the displaced people.

Recently I have been recieving urgent pleas for medical supplies for those fleeing the fighting in the tribal areas (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) of northern Pakistan. This is a result of military action in Bajaur, in the border of Pakistan & Afghanistan.

Here is the first email I recieved from Dr. Maria Tsvetkova, of Relief International,via fellow rotarians in Pakistan & Afghanistan, Rotary District 3270.

Here are some of the emails from the Relief International doctor:

Date: Monday, August 25, 2008, 10:29 AM

Dear All,

Over 80,000 displaced residents of Bajaur Agency (FATA)> have arrived in Lower Dir by today. New families keep arriving every day andthe displaced are in need of immediate assistance. Relief International . Relief Pakistan is planning on intervening, first and furthermost via dispatching volunteer doctors / donated medicine and organizing mobile medical clinics on site.

Her next correspondence on the situtation :

Unfortunately, with the end of Ramaddan the military offensive is expected to intensify. The displaced people are counted inthousands and they keep coming, primarily women, children and the elderly. Health is a huge issue but so is water, food, education. We are running themedical clinic in 2-3 camps in various locations trying to respond to themost pressing urgent needs. Very few NGOs are out there due to it being aharsh land with Shariat Law... I visit systematically, undercover... it'stough out there but we will stay as long as we are needed, and it will be,unfortunately, for a while.

and then:

Time is of essence here and these mobile medical clinics are a life line...Just the other day, a spontaneous camp was formed in Lower Dir - twochildren died overnight, due to exhaustion and dehydration - and our cliniccould not make it over there because we were swamped in the other camp. The life of each lost child is heavy on my conscience.

SincerelyMaria Tsvetkova>Country Director / Pakistan>Relief International>House 155, Street 40, F10/4, Islamabad>Tel: +92 51 2298135>Fax: +92 51 2298136>Mobile: +92 301 855 4993>Email: maria.tsvetkova@ri.org>Web: http://www.ri.org/

I am starting an info campaign here and request to have donations checks marked FATA REFUGEES and sent to Ipswich Rotary Club, PO Box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938. Checksare tax deductable (501C) if they are made out to "Ipswich Rotary Charitable Endowment" and marked FATA refugees. These will be collected and wired to theRotary Club of Peshawar Unitown who has a doctor as a member. He will buy wholesale medicines and will deliver them to Maria. I personally will be visiting Charsadda in December so will verify all donations. Rotarians in District 3270 are already mobilizing and they need our help! ! Donations are tax deductable.

Faces of Pakistan Photo Exhibition

2008-09-12T04:13:00.000-07:00

OPEN HOUSE
Fri. Sept. 12, 6-8pm
The Hamilton Athletic Club
300 Main St. Wenham (978) 468-1931

These portraits are faces of people from a variety of locations and walks of life in Pakistan. They are vibrant, friendly and peaceful. Their country is a place full of history, beauty, spontaneity, art, talent, politics, elegance, freedom & chaos.

Only a quarter of all children in Pakistan finish 6th grade. In the northern regions of Pakistan, ignorance has given way to violence. Education is the answer to these problems. Rotary in your area is launching an Adopt-a-School Program to help people of these troubled regions similar to Greg Mortenson of “Three Cups of Tea”. Through The Rotary Foundation grants and partner clubs in Pakistan, we can multiply our original funds by 3.5. We can fight terrorism by fighting ignorance with the International Family of Rotary around the world.

Meet Rachel Williams, District Literacy Program Coordinator 07-09 & Photographer
Tele: 978-372-1106 email: rachfit@mindspring.com

Contribution can be made out to Rotary District 7930,
Note on the check ‘Adopt-A-School’
Mail to: 83 School St. Groveland, MA

Rachel will leave for her annual trip to Pakistan in early Dec.

Sept. 11 7th anniversay

2008-09-12T04:05:00.000-07:00

This is what I have been giving out at my presentations this week :

Rotary District 7930
Literacy: NOW more than ever!

Every day this second week of Sept.’08 is International Literacy Day. Literacy is directly related to peace. Ignorance and poverty anywhere endangers and threatens us everywhere. An increase in education levels world wide give us a better chance for peace on earth. Rotarians are in a position to make a difference in the world now more than at any other time in history.

Our community schools are making do with ever shrinking funds. When students don’t get the help they need in our public schools they become marginalized. Their grades slip along with their future. This directly affects our projected increase in the national crime rate for the next decade. The better our schools are, the less crime we have in our neighborhoods.

When parents don’t know the importance of pre-literacy their children become less teachable. US prisons forecast future crime rates through the literacy of children in kindergarten.

Our international scene is dominated by war in a vacuum of dialogue and education. In many parts of the world there are no schools &/or schools are a propaganda machine. In these places PolioPlus is not successful.

Of the worlds 6 billion people, 25% are illiterate. 70% of these people are in 10 countries, 7 of which are Muslim. Lack of education and opportunity breed ignorance and misunderstanding. We, of the International Family of Rotary, can change this. The key to peace and understanding is education.

Presentation by Rachel Williams ’08-‘09
District Literacy Program Coordinator
rachfit@mindspring.com 978-374-1106

Please help build Kalusha School for Girls in Northern Pakistan

2008-07-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

Kalusha Girls High School
is to be built 50 miles from Peshawar,
20 miles from Charsadda and 10 miles
from the tribal area of northern Pakistan.

The school will be built and run by the
Dosti Foundation which already
has 18 schools in the area. This
organization is headed up in Pakistan by Rotarian (past-president of Peshawar Unitown) Zamarud Shah. Zamarud Shah is a Pakistani-American Philanthropist who has moved back to his old country in retirement to help Dosti.

There are no other girl’s high schools in the area for 9 miles on either side so it is important to have one located in this area. This school will facilitate the education for a minimum of 300 girls. It will cost $72,000 to build and will also include a primary school for 250 children since the local school nearby is very overcrowded. The building will have the first sanitation facilities in the area and will include this aspect in its education curriculum.

Rotary donations checks are tax deductable and can be made out to Ipswich Rotary Club (pls note Pakistan girls school on check) and send to the club at PO Box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938

For more info about Dosti see :
http://www.dosti.org/

Helping Burma

2008-05-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

The tragedy in Burma is beyond belief. Even more incomprehensible is the manner in which the government of Burma is hindering relief efforts.

Actually, if you know about this government you will not be surprised. Not only do they shoot their own people, they shoot their people’s monks! Plus, I have met government ministers from Asia who have met their counterparts in the Burma military junta and they say that the individuals know nothing about what their posting is supposed to do. They live in their own vacuum and have even built their own new city to live in outside of Rangoon.

The best ways to help with the present tragedy to find ways that involve minimal contact with the terrible people who operate as the government. Anything that is flown in and has connections with USA or UK will not get far. Avoid newly created contacts with the country as this will mean greater involvement with the government and greater likelihood the donations will sit in Rangoon &/or end up as property of those in the junta. Avoid Christian faith based organizations as Burma is a deeply Buddhist country and they don’t need someone else’s religion pushed upon them...

Doctors Without Borders has had a presence in the delta region for years and is doing huge work! Look them up and contribute at
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/report.cfm?id=2689

The Monks are the locals doing most of the work to help people of the delta. You can contribute to this fund by going through the Mahasatipatthana Meditation Center of Malden which is linked to the Amercia Burma Buhhdist Association website at http://www.mahasiusa.org/

I visited the country a couple of times and fell in love with it. What wonderful people! After the election of Aung San Su Kyi I told my family to send money so we could buy a place in Burma. This all changed with the military crackdown after the election. For inkling on what it must be like to live in Burma, read “Finding George Orwell in Burma”.

Three Cups of Tea : Greg Mortenson

2008-04-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

"THE CUPS OF TEA"

If you haven't read this book, please do the world a favor and do so ASAP!
Another story of how it is up to the grassroots organizations to build WORLD PEACE!
We can see what happens when it is left up to governments....

#1 New York Times & Boston Globe Besteller
Three Cups of Tea
One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace...One School At A Time
By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver RelinVIKING Hardcover 2006 / PENGUIN Paperback 2007

“Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.” -Tom Brokaw

"A stunningly simple story of how to make peace" -Bloomsbury Review
"Fascinating...one only hopes U.S. policymakers read Mortenson's book" -Philadelphia Inquirer

"Astonishing tale of compassion - and of promise kept" -Time Magazine Asia Book of the Year

"Laced with drama, danger, romance, and good deeds" -Christian Science Monitor

see http://www.threecupsoftea.com/Intro.php

A MESSAGE FROM RAWA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

2007-12-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

Keep the Light of Hope Alive Support RAWAs 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 childrens 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 childrens 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 RAWAs 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

2007-12-29T06:19:00.001-08:00

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

2007-12-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-12-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-07T04:56:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-07T04:40:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-07T03:14:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-05T04:32:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-03T04:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-12-03T03:47:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-03T02:18:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-01T06:46:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-01T06:21:00.001-08:00

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.

Arrival in Pakistan

2007-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

Arrived after a 35 hour trip. I had to collect my luggage and check in again in Bangkok. Yikes, even with the new airport, it took me 2 hours to get through immigration. By the time I got out, my luggage had been sent to the "lost luggage dept".

Landed in Lahore with the first rain of the season. Immigration was very fast. Maybe that was because 6 of the 10 officers were women! Picked up luggage and was out of the airport within 25 minutes.

Today the air is clean and the ski is blue! Musharraf is no longer part of the army and elections are on Jan. 6. Life carries on for all here and there is no danger, honest! Much of what previously heard in our press was not know by the general public here due to the press black out.

Tonight I went to a joint meeting of 2 Lahore Rotary Clubs. Tomorrow I go so some hospitals and schools which were the recipients of previous Matching Grants.

Map of Pakistan

2007-11-26T19:17:00.001-08:00

On 29th I will land in Lahore.

visa approved

2007-11-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

My visa finally arrived and I will depart for Lahore on 28th Nov.!

Salem News, Nov. 13,2007

2007-11-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

Salem News

Published: November 13, 2007 12:00 am

Rotarians help build Pakistani school

By Steve Landwehr , Staff writer

IPSWICH - If all you knew about Rotary International was gleaned from attending a club meeting, you might come away thinking its members a bit daft.They don't have a silly handshake, but they do have Happy Bucks, an allotted time when members take turns dropping a dollar into the club coffers for anything, such as the success of a child in school or thanks for a beautiful sunrise.Then there are the fines. Just about anyone can be slapped with one at any time for telling a bad joke, paying someone a sarcastic compliment or simply because one fellow wants to jab the other fellow.

Then you meet someone like Ipswich Rotarian Rachel Williams, and you begin to understand why more than 1.2 million people belong to the world's first service club. When Williams decides to focus Rotary's powers on people in need, she thinks nothing of reaching halfway around the world to do it.Williams is scheduled to head to Pakistan at the end of the month with $12,000 raised through a variety of Rotary sources that will be used to complete the resurrection of a school destroyed by the 2005 earthquake that devastated the country. Some of the money was contributed by Rotary's elementary school program, Early Act, at Winthrop School in Ipswich.

The 45 children in the Peace Model School where Williams is headed in Muzaffarabad, Kashmir, are all younger than second grade."The older kids all died," said Williams, who visited the country shortly after the quake. It struck during the school day, and an estimated 95 percent of the district's schoolchildren - an entire generation - were killed.Of more than 9,000 schools that were destroyed by the earthquake, only about 400 have been rebuilt.

Following a heroWilliams has her eye on a larger goal than this one school. She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Greg Mortenson, an American mountain climber who built schools in Pakistan after he saw the plight of children in the country and chronicled his journey in his book "Three Cups of Tea.""He's my hero," Williams said. "I want to do that in Pakistan."And why stop there?"If each Rotary club adopted one school in a troubled area, it would be huge," Williams said.Just this week, Williams asked her fellow Rotarians for help with another problem.

A Pakistani camp was built as a safe haven for refugees who left Afghanistan when the United States began its campaign to rid the country of the Taliban. The Pakistani government recently shut down the camp, and many of the refugees fear returning to their homes because the situation there is so unstable.Williams is asking the club for $1,000 to help the refugees get settled before the coming winter.

"I think it's important we do these things in troubled parts of the world," Williams said.Williams will be flying into a country in turmoil. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency a week ago and gave his government wide latitude to crush political dissent. Thursday, he had former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto placed under house arrest.The country has also been rocked by militant Islamic violence, with bombings targeted at military and government officials, and clashes between government forces and supporters of the Taliban.But Williams said she is not concerned for her own safety.'Never afraid'"I've never been afraid in Pakistan," she said. The local Rotary club has always kept her out of harm's way, Williams said.

Her fellow Rotarians asked Williams to get the club more involved internationally several years ago. She was a good choice, since she had lived in Singapore for 20 years before moving to this country after she got married in 2004.She and her husband, Fred DeNapoli, asked wedding guests to donate money to Rotary in lieu of presents. Williams used half of the donations to fund a clinic in Pakistan.During her years in Singapore, she traveled to Pakistan several times each year to visit friends, and she has forged a strong relationship with the Rotary club in Rawalpindi, a city near Pakistan's capital, Islamabad."It's a wonderful place," Williams said of Pakistan. "The people are so dynamic. I'm never in any danger there," she said, and added with a smile, "The most dangerous thing is the traffic."

If you want to help the effort to broaden education in Pakistan, send a check, made out to Ipswich Rotary (label check : Peacemaker) and send to PO Box 543, Ipswich, MA 01938. If you would like to assist Afghan refugees go to afghanwomensmission.org.

Staff writer Steve Landwehr can be reached at 978-338-2660 or by e-mail at slandwehr@ecnnews.com.

2007-11-13T03:20:00.000-08:00

EVERY CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION.

2007-11-13T03:19:00.000-08:00

As International Chair of Ipswich Rotary Club, I am pleased to announce the approval by Rotary International of a Matching Grant application to assist the Peace Model School in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. This Matching Grant is the second partnering of the Ipswich & Rawalpindi Rohtas Rotary Clubs which will come to a total of US$12,075. The Ipswich Club, assisted by Winthrop Elementary EarlyActers, is putting up $3,000 to be matched by Rotary District 7930. This district consists of 47 clubs in the Boston area and northeast Massachusetts communities The Rawalpindi club will put up US$1,050. Added to this total will be the US$5025 from the The Rotary Foundation.

The Peace Model School was started by a group of volunteers lead by journalist Saeed Siddique of Muzaffarabad and built by an NGO from the Czech Republic. The new grant will supply furniture, books and school supplies, uniforms, school bags, a computer lab, a playground as well as a school bus.

Students in the school are made up of various faiths. Many are refugees from the Kashmir border conflict as well as the terrible earthquake 3 years ago. The earthquake caused 99% of the schools to collapse, while school was in session, killing 20,000 children. An entire generation was lost. Of the 9200 schools that collapse, only 400 have been replaced. Thousands of fundamentalist madrassahs have sprung up in their place.

2007-11-13T03:14:00.000-08:00

2007-11-13T02:56:00.000-08:00

For our children’s future we must “wage peace” by fighting ignorance with education. To promote peace through education, I am launching a program to assist schools in the areas where many of our international problems originate; Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Did you know that 9200 schools collapse in 2004’s horrendous earthquake in Pakistan? It was the morning of a school day on Oct. 4th that saw almost 20.000 children die under the fallen buildings. A whole generation was lost in one day. Only 400 hundred of these schools have been replaced but thousands of Madrassahs have sprung up in the refugee camps.

Did you know that the Taliban grew up in madrassahs and were educated by men who were raised in a war and had little or no education? In Islam, "Heaven is at the soles of your mother's feet". You can't go to heaven unless you do what your mom tells you. The Taliban were raised without mothers or sister and taught by teachers who were angry and often violent! This is not an excuse for them but needs to be a lesson for us : REAL SCHOOLS ARE ESSENTIAL for a civilized society.

The U.S. is known for its education and we need to reach out and share it!

2007-11-13T02:46:00.000-08:00

NOW more than ever…
your world NEEDS YOU!

Much of the developing world wears the face of violence and destruction. We are losing the hearts and minds of our fellow man.

Of the worlds 6 billion people, 25% are illiterate. 70% of these people are in 10 countries, 7 of which are Muslim. We can change this. The key to peace and understanding is education. Lack of education and opportunity breed ignorance and misunderstanding.

It is not about fighting terror, it is about fighting ignorance.