Afghanistan and the War for Hearts and Minds
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The principal problem we chose to address in Afghanistan is the need for education. The greatest challenge is providing educational opportunities to Afghan girls and women. Equally important is educating Americans about our involvement in Afghanistan and its people.
It started out so simple in 2003, raise enough funds to build a school in the village of Lalander, Afghanistan. I founded Trust in Education with that singular purpose in mind. The school opened in the Spring of 2005 and I visited it shortly after it opened. That turned out to be a life altering event. The conditions and people were too compelling to return to the life I had led before.
Nine years later, I have been to Afghanistan 14 times. Trust in Education is a very active and growing grass roots people to people, secular and volunteer organization, that provides aid and support to thousands of Afghans every year.
To list but a few of its achievements:
1. TIE funded the construction of two schools. It now employs 23 Afghan teachers,teaching 1167 children, 673 of whom are girls.
2. It provided 23,000 fruit trees to 250 farmers.
3. 75 ‘street children’ are being sponsored through TIE by schools and families in the US. Their sponsorship enables street children to leave the streets permanently and attend school.
4. TIE has paid the cost of building soccer fields, volleyball courts, and playground equipment at four schools.
5. TIE collected, packed, and delivered clothing this winter to 850 families along with enough rice, donated by Stop Hunger Now, to serve 120,000 meals. Three days ago we held our 6th packing party. Over 100 volunteers packed 279 large boxes of clothing and buckets of rice. This winter 1000 refugee families will receive a bucket of rice and clothing.
6. Volunteers built 100 solar ovens. These along with 650 solar
cookits are in Afghanistan, where we have just launched a solar cooking program. Solar cooking reduces smoke inhalation respiratory problems, something that kills two million people a year. The ovens can easily heat water to 150 degrees, thereby killing all bacteria harmful to humans. 50% of the drinking water in Afghanistan is contaminated. This program was just launched in several refugee camps.
7. This year TIE instituted an Earn It fundraising program. Students were told they could not ask their parents for money. They had to earn whatever they donated. The results were fantastic. In many classes participation was over 90%. The schools support street children. Thus they know where their money is going.
The greatest achievements result from the education of Afghans and Americans. TIE serves as a link between two very different worlds. An educated Afghan and American know they are not one another’s enemy. Ignorance is their common enemy. TIE finds itself in a war for hearts and minds, both here and there. And, all we were intending to do is raise the funds needed to build one school.
More About This Charity
Region
West
Category
Small Charity of the Year
Name
Trust In Education
Mission
Trust in Education serves as a link between Afghan villages and communities in the United States. We provide education, health care, and reconstruction aid to Afghan families. Our primary mission is to support educational opportunities for Afghan children. It is equally important for us to inform Americans about our involvement in Afghanistan and its people. Both worlds learn through TIE that they share more in common than not.
Impact
- This Achievement raised $1,500,000 plus in the past year
- This Achievement alone has helped tens of thousands of people
- This charity has helped over 10,000 people since January 1, 2011
- As a link between American and Afghan families, TIE is second to none.
Works In
Afghanistan
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