Greetings!  

In November, I saw a news report about Afghan families who were selling their daughters and letting newborns starve to death so that the other members of the family could survive. That was the genesis behind the family support program. We have spent 18 years helping Afghans educate their children. It was time to address the lack of food on the table.

Three months later, thirty three families are each receiving $100 a month and will for a year. One hundred seventy people are directly impacted, one hundred twenty four of whom are children. Eighteen of the families are headed by widows and one by a single woman. Her husband disappeared three years ago.

 I've read all their profiles, more than once. Rent for two small rooms with no electricity or bathroom is $25 - $30 per month. Those who find work earn $1 to $4 a day. Most aren't able to earn income every day, particularly during the winter months. Women cleaning homes or doing laundry are paid $1 to $2 a day. Mujeeb reports that a family of four can feed itself for $125 per month. For us, $125 can be a meal out with friends.

Photos are taken each time a family receives its $100 and are sent to their sponsors. Two of these photos are included here. We have contact phone numbers for most of the families should a sponsor wish to call. As most of you know this program is a zero sum program for TIE. One hundred percent of what's donated goes to the families. The compassion and empathy of TIE's donors has made that possible.  

We thought we'd solved the problem of sending money to Afghanistan. It worked three times and then had to find another way. I called Western Union. Their office in Kabul was out of cash. Banks in Kabul are running out of cash, limiting withdrawals to $200, and Afghans are standing in long lines for hours before reaching a teller or being told to return the next day. We now have two reliable and trustworthy money exchangers for sending money to Afghanistan.. Four thousand dollars arrived in Kabul yesterday to pay the December and January salaries of TIE's employees.

The value of the Afghani (currency) has fallen by over 45%. The exchange rate fell from 68 Afghanis to the dollar to around 100. In cities near Pakistan merchants were not accepting Afghanis, only Pakistani rupees. To shore up its currency, the Taliban made it illegal to refuse to accept Afghanis. Payments to our employees, families, and sponsored children are all made with American dollars.

Everyone is very concerned about the future of girls and women in Afghanistan. Schools are closed during the winter months. The Taliban's minister of education announced schools for boys and girls will be opened right after the Afghan new year begins, which is the 21st of March. Some universities are opening this month but only for boys. Afghans are anxious about what will actually happen when the lower grade schools open.

The international community is providing direct aid to Afghans ie. food, medicine etc. Most countries are in a wait and see mode before providing funds to the Taliban government. Funds given to the Taliban government will be conditional.

If you recall, years ago I circulated a petition addressed to our government that many of you signed. It called upon our government to consider, in the allocation of our foreign aid dollars, the extent to which a country and its government were taking affirmative action to achieve gender equality. Money does "talk louder than words" in countries dependent upon foreign aid. The petition didn't go viral, notwithstanding signatures obtained from Julianne Moore and Alan Cumming.

Reliable news about Afghanistan comes through social media. Four female protesters and two news reporters are missing. Footage of women demonstrators being tear gassed can be found on youtube. Mass execution of Afghans who worked for the US government and military are not occurring. I have heard from several who worked for us, however, that they remain in fear for their life and can't find work. Those who can afford to leave are and the "brain drain" continues. This is what occurred when the Taliban gained control in 1996.

All eight of our computer libraries have reopened and we may open a 9th. If you will recall the Taliban are not allowing men to teach girls and all of our library employees were and continue to be women. For now the libraries are being used by girls. The sponsored children will continue to receive the funds their sponsors provide. The family support program has had a great start and will continue to grow.

When the Taliban took control on the 15th of August, I expected that our ability to provide aid to Afghan families and children would either end or be substantially curtailed. After all, we have actively and openly supported the education of girls and gender equality for eighteen years. We have not and are not operating now below the Taliban radar. They have yet to intervene. Inshallah, they will allow us to continue.

 Surprisingly, we're providing more aid than ever before. Conditions have worsened, since I began in 2003. It's troubling work. But, then every week or so I receive photos like those you are seeing today and reports about the progress of children who have been sponsored. Then it's worth it.

Budd

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