Greetings!  

Mujeeb wrote explaining that the students using our seven libraries don't have the supplies they need; a notebook, pen, pencil, eraser and pencil sharpener. Based upon his recommendation we have added school supplies to our seven library budgets. Seven hundred twenty students are receiving everything but a pen this week. Pens will be distributed soon. 

Mujeeb took photos of distribution to five of our libraries. Following distribution he wrote;

"The students were happier and more grateful than ever"

The total cost per student is ninety-nine cents, broken down as follows;

Notebook $ 0.35

Ruler      $ 0.17

Eraser     $ 0.14

Pen       $ 0.12

Pencil     $ 0.11

Sharpener  $ 0.10

Our monthly operating cost for the seven libraries is now $2305. Divided by the average attendance of 629 students a day that's $4.65 per student per month, including one cent shy of a dollar for school supplies.

I noticed in all the photos Mujeeb sent how old many of the girls are. For girls who would be in grades seven or above, our libraries have likely become their only access to an education outside their homes. No wonder the average absentee rate is three per day per library. Bear in mind the libraries are open six days a week. The girls are not only "getting an education", they are "getting out of the house" and socializing with other students. Remember how housebound we were during COVID? There is no vaccine to cure fear.

We will add more libraries as funding permits. In fact, our eighth should open before the end of the month.

There are now sixty-two families receiving $100 per month for a year. Below are photos of three families holding their $100 for March.

Mujeeb wrote

"Pikai is 45 years old. She is a widow and works as a laundress and cleaner in the houses in order to earn some money.

Pikai's husband died due to heart attack and now she has the full responsibility of her only child who is a girl and her name is Shabnam.

Shabnam is 14 years old and she is at the 8th grade of the school, they used to live in a rented house but unfortunately the owner of the house kicked them out because they couldn't pay the rent and now they live in an abandoned house located in a desert called Padulah and they have covered the windows using plastics sheets.

They have not found the owner of the property yet to talk to him about being or paying the rent."

Since she's 14, there is no school for Shabham.

New $100 bills are currently ten percent more valuable than the old. It's harder to counterfeit new $100 bills. So far, we've been successful in obtaining new bills from our money exchanger in Kabul. They did try though.

There's great news from the Ministry of Education. They told Mujeeb we're too small for the ministry to regulate. We're officially operating under the radar!!!! We've been trying to achieve that status since we began.

Budd

Watch TIE's Overview video: https://youtu.be/wVUErInF2tg -- and please send to friends - It summarizes everything we've done

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