Past Projects
Past Projects in Afghanistan
Library - Boys Orphanage - Kabul
While walking through Thia Maskan (the main facility housing 1000 orphan boys in Kabul) during our fall, 2003 trip, we felt overwhelmed by the primitive living conditions the boys faced every day. We wondered how we could best serve them and what type of aid would make the biggest difference in their lives: A new kitchen? Better food? A new health clinic? Toys or games? Newer clothes?
When asked directly what would bring them hope, one boy’s simple answer caught us completely off guard:
“If peace would last long enough that we could finish our education… and if we could have a library – a REAL library?”
His unexpected response seemed to express the overwhelming concern of all the boys. War had been the norm for most of their lives. Their education had been severely disrupted so that all of them were behind age-appropriate grade levels. Yet their thirst for knowledge remained and superseded everything else. We were so touched and impressed that we cried.
We returned to California, determined to help make this dream a reality. Raising funds, however, without national exposure, has presented its challenges. We knew that ABC’s Bob Woodruff had also visited the orphanage on a recent trip. His story, however, had not yet aired. Then one day, out of the blue, Diana’s phone rang. It was Bob Woodruff himself, calling to say that his profile of Soraya Hakim and her dynamic work at the orphanage would be shown that night on “ABC World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings! Bob had done a google internet search of Soraya’s name and discovered Diana as a U.S. contact!
Bob’s magnificent report expressed Soraya’s exuberance, dedication and commitment to helping the desperate plight of her country’s 2 million orphans. Afterwards, ABC received calls from concerned U.S. citizens asking how they could help. Diana’s name and contact information were given, launching more national exposure for AAOH. As a result, people sent a total of $5300. These funds, in combination with those from other NGOS, were enough to build the boys’ new library and computer center. In addition, wonderful new volunteers – like Dr. Lynda Cook, Audra Prewitt, and Rex Pratt -volunteered their time and services to the cause.
When asked directly what would bring them hope, one boy’s simple answer caught us completely off guard:
“If peace would last long enough that we could finish our education… and if we could have a library – a REAL library?”
His unexpected response seemed to express the overwhelming concern of all the boys. War had been the norm for most of their lives. Their education had been severely disrupted so that all of them were behind age-appropriate grade levels. Yet their thirst for knowledge remained and superseded everything else. We were so touched and impressed that we cried.
We returned to California, determined to help make this dream a reality. Raising funds, however, without national exposure, has presented its challenges. We knew that ABC’s Bob Woodruff had also visited the orphanage on a recent trip. His story, however, had not yet aired. Then one day, out of the blue, Diana’s phone rang. It was Bob Woodruff himself, calling to say that his profile of Soraya Hakim and her dynamic work at the orphanage would be shown that night on “ABC World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings! Bob had done a google internet search of Soraya’s name and discovered Diana as a U.S. contact!
Bob’s magnificent report expressed Soraya’s exuberance, dedication and commitment to helping the desperate plight of her country’s 2 million orphans. Afterwards, ABC received calls from concerned U.S. citizens asking how they could help. Diana’s name and contact information were given, launching more national exposure for AAOH. As a result, people sent a total of $5300. These funds, in combination with those from other NGOS, were enough to build the boys’ new library and computer center. In addition, wonderful new volunteers – like Dr. Lynda Cook, Audra Prewitt, and Rex Pratt -volunteered their time and services to the cause.
- There are over 2 million orphans in Afghanistan
CLICK HERE to see
- Afghanistan has more land mines than any other country in the world - resulting in the death of up to 20 children each month
- 100% of your donations go to aiding children in Afghanistan
- CLICK HERE to read recent articles in the press about AAOH.org
- CLICK HERE to read Diana Haskin's Journal Entries from her April 2007 and March 2008 Mission Trips to Kabul and the House of Flowers Orphanage
