Greetings!   

Two weeks ago, Basir and Qudsia, found another child to sponsor, Mokhtar. He was selling onions on the streets of Kabul. When they met with Mokhtar's family they discovered he had seven sisters. I have not been able to get them out of my mind since. You'll understand why once you read what Qudsia wrote. 
Dear Suzanne,

Yesterday I have found this boy on the street selling onion to earn money for his education. He goes very far away to the educational center which is cheaper than other centers. He is the only child of his family who goes to school. He has 7 sisters. The elder sister is 16 years old. The youngest sister is 7 months.

Mokhtar is 10 years old and in 4th grade. He lives in a very poor family. Some days they don't have something to eat because his father is a daily worker. After corona pandemic there is not enough work for daily workers.

Yesterday I went to their house and asked girls are you willing to go to school. They said we have never seen school. What is that? They said no we are afraid to go out of the house we just want to stay at home.

When these girls asked me what is school, what we would do there it was very hard moment for me to answer their questions .

I wish I was a writer and could write about the lives of all these girls who live in the house for the entire of their life. They never get the chance to enjoy life. At the age of 15 and 16 they get married and face many troubles .These girls never understand the value and the reality of life because the people around them never let them know.

Not only Mokhtar's sisters, but other girls like them they believe girls are only for house chores and to take care of the family .They think boys can be educated and go out.These things happen especially in some provinces of Afghanistan. Girls are still treated differently than boys.

Mokhtar's father told me that he wanted all his children to be educated, but poverty was the big reason of not sending the girls to school.

Thanks,
Qudsia
Qudsia, Mokhtar and five of his six sisters. His father asked that we not use a photo that contains his wife and eldest daughter ---part culture and part fear.

I'm sure this will be troubling for many as it has been for me. On the positive side we've decided to sponsor one of the daughters thereby bringing $100 per month into the family. Their father has promised that all his daughters will go to school as soon as they can.

We're looking into the cost of a tutor for the children. Since they have never gone to school they will need help catching up.. The eldest daughter who is 16 will have aged out (not be allowed to enter the first grade). Their mother will in all likelihood sit in on the lessons.

Our sponsorship program completely alters lives. This rescue effects one boy, seven girls, a mother, and a father whose economic load will be substantially lightened.

For the past three years we have had a waiting list of sponsors. Basir and Qudsia are getting faster at finding qualified children. We could use some more sponsors. Consider taking on a child. Cost? $660 a year. Those who have sponsored a child are very happy they did. Information about sponsorship and an application form can be found Here.

Budd
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