As you see, smiles are hard to come by. This has been true for the eighteen years I've taken and received photos of children and families in Afghanistan. It is not customary for them to smile when their photo is taken. Over the course of my twenty visits to Afghanistan, I taught hundreds of children the word cheese. They actually laugh when they are told to say cheese and that's when we take the photo.
What is clear from the eleven profiles I've received to date, $100 a month will pay a families' rent and put food on their table. It may be enough to provide most if not all of what some of these families currently pay for food and shelter.
Through our street children sponsorship program we learned that many children were without school supplies or not going to school, because their parents couldn't afford the cost, particularly for girls. However they choose to spend this money, weight of poverty just became lighter.
The give them a fish approach has been launched! Food and shelter are being provided to six families, thirty-six people in all. If you're thinking about what to give someone for Christmas, support an Afghan family for a year ($1200) or six months ($600). Email us. We'll send you photos and a profile of a family for your approval, as soon as we can.
I'm also currently focusing on reopening our libraries and expect most to open in December, Inshallah (If Allah wills it), an expression often heard in Afghanistan. I learned yesterday that the Taliban are currently not allowing women to teach boys or men to teach girls. All of our teachers are women and teach English. Why English? Historically, it has been the money language. Whoever spoke and understood English had more and better job opportunities in Afghanistan. That too may change.
Now, what shall we do about the boys? Query, are boys more trouble than they are worth? Where have I heard that before? No, they're not.. It's just that Afghan boys already have so many more choices than Afghan girls. I'm very happy to learn that the girls will be able to use the libraries and attend our English classes immediately.
Moreover, as I discussed with someone the other day, Afghan men are currently in control of rights and educated men are much more likely to support equal rights for women. So, we will just have to put up with and help educate the boys, at least until women achieve equality and take over.
Budd
ps Subtle hint: The sponsor a family program is a zero sum program. 100% of what's donated for a family goes to the family. There are the libraries etc. to fund.
