AAOH's Commitment to
The House of Flowers Orphanage
The House of Flowers Orphanage
When founding AAOH my initial desire and dream was to go to Afghanistan and start an orphanage with a school for the children. I really thought I could do this & quickly after we had written out our plan of action we were led to meet Soraya Hakim. We immediately saw the need to sponsor WETCO (Wafia, Educational, and Training Center for Orphans). WETCO was founded by Soraya Hakim and her dear husband before the reign of the Taliban to meet the needs of over 700 orphans. Our humanitarian efforts for them were greatly appreciated by the staff and children there. The Center was closed after Soraya moved back to Kabul in 2003 when Soraya made the decision to take the very important job as the General Director of all the government run orphanages. AAOH’s efforts are still directed to bring in kind aid to these
orphanages and continue to support their effort to help bring hope to the children in any way we can.
On AAOH’s second humanitarian trip in 2003 we traveled with the talented therapist Casi Kushel who had created the protocol for the trauma reduction work and her colleagues Suzanne Pregerson and Taghi Amjadi, we were introduced to Dr. Mostafa Vazari during this trip and an instant friendship and respect grew for him and his incredible dedication to the people he was serving in this country. Mostafa founded MEPO (Medical, Educational, Peace Organization) a non profit in 2002 and moved to Kabul and opened the House of Flowers orphanage as well as two women’s clinics.
From the first moment we walked into the House of Flowers we could immediately feel the sense of love, peace and stability Dr. Vaziri and the staff had created for these beautiful children. It was very evident that these orphaned children had been flourishing under the love and care of Dr. Vaziri and the gentle and kind staff. The children were learning about their world in an effective and loving way and were so cooperative and happy to have a loving safe home and an education. The Montessori program was giving these children a chance to explore their world and learn to treat others with love and respect. I had never seen so many children under one roof so willing to cooperate and work together on chores and serve others so selflessly. House of Flowers is truly a model for others to follow.
After seeing hundreds of children on the streets in Kabul trying to survive each day and during my visits to all the other orphanages my first impression was to want to “save” each child and take them home with me. After a few minutes at the House of Flowers I did not have that sense. Instead I knew these children were blessed to live in the House of Flowers and I wished that every child could grow up in this loving and nurturing environment.
It has been a joy to know these children personally and watch them flourish under the care of Dr. Vaziri, Allison and their wonderfully trained staff. We have felt privileged to help them in small ways over the years. In March of this year Mostafa asked us at AAOH if we would consider helping them by becoming partners with them. We could not turn them down for we know each of these children have a wonderful start and an opportunity to grow up in this home and that they will make a difference in their community and the world. My dream to have an orphanage and a school had now become a reality! And I and our other board members are committed to seeing that each of these children, are able to grow up in this safe and loving home.
As partners we have a goal to raise $20,000.00 this year to help sustain and support the orphanage. The continued rise in the cost of living in Kabul makes it difficult to meet the financial demands of running a home and school for 28 children. It is critical to these children’s lives that they are able to grow up in this home environment and continue the education they are receiving. We believe at AAOH every child in Afghanistan has the opportunity to make a difference in the world and we have the opportunity to help bring them hope and create a better future for them. With out the House of Flowers these children would be vulnerable to terrorist networks, drug-lords, and war lords, which will perpetuate the unrest in our world and in the lives of our children here in the US.
Please look at the children’s photos and read their stories and select one child you would like to sponsor. You can make a difference by giving these children the home life, education, and hope they deserve. It would only take 28 families, individuals, socially conscious groups or businesses to each sponsor a child at the House of Flowers for a year to reach our goal.
My husband and I have committed to sponsoring two children each year.
Your contribution to the life of a child would be $59.00 a month or $714.00 for the year. Your loving gift would be a way for you and your family to know that you were making a huge difference in the world. You will receive a photo and the personal history of the child and AAOH board members will personally see that your child receives any letters or gifts as we travel to Afghanistan each year. We would also make an effort to bring back letters, drawings and updated photos to you from your sponsored child. Dr. Vaziri and his partner Allison Lyde will make sure we all receive frequent updates by e mail.
Please contact Diana Haskins at dihaskins@aol.com for any questions or simply select the child you want to sponsor and send your tax deductible check to:
A Little Help
C/O AAOH
5710 Hollister Ave. #155
Goleta, CA 93117
We will contact you to get the photo and history of your child to you.
If you are not able to sponsor a child but, feel compelled to help. Every dollar makes a difference and 100% of your donation goes to the aid of these children. Please send your 501 (c)(3) tax deductible donations to:
A Little Help
C/O AAOH
5710 Hollister Ave. #155
Goleta, CA 93117
If You Prefer to use your Credit Card to make a donation,
please click on the following link, which will take you to the
"Contribute Page" at A Little Help's website.
Diana Haskins
President, AAOH
On AAOH’s second humanitarian trip in 2003 we traveled with the talented therapist Casi Kushel who had created the protocol for the trauma reduction work and her colleagues Suzanne Pregerson and Taghi Amjadi, we were introduced to Dr. Mostafa Vazari during this trip and an instant friendship and respect grew for him and his incredible dedication to the people he was serving in this country. Mostafa founded MEPO (Medical, Educational, Peace Organization) a non profit in 2002 and moved to Kabul and opened the House of Flowers orphanage as well as two women’s clinics.
From the first moment we walked into the House of Flowers we could immediately feel the sense of love, peace and stability Dr. Vaziri and the staff had created for these beautiful children. It was very evident that these orphaned children had been flourishing under the love and care of Dr. Vaziri and the gentle and kind staff. The children were learning about their world in an effective and loving way and were so cooperative and happy to have a loving safe home and an education. The Montessori program was giving these children a chance to explore their world and learn to treat others with love and respect. I had never seen so many children under one roof so willing to cooperate and work together on chores and serve others so selflessly. House of Flowers is truly a model for others to follow.
After seeing hundreds of children on the streets in Kabul trying to survive each day and during my visits to all the other orphanages my first impression was to want to “save” each child and take them home with me. After a few minutes at the House of Flowers I did not have that sense. Instead I knew these children were blessed to live in the House of Flowers and I wished that every child could grow up in this loving and nurturing environment.
It has been a joy to know these children personally and watch them flourish under the care of Dr. Vaziri, Allison and their wonderfully trained staff. We have felt privileged to help them in small ways over the years. In March of this year Mostafa asked us at AAOH if we would consider helping them by becoming partners with them. We could not turn them down for we know each of these children have a wonderful start and an opportunity to grow up in this home and that they will make a difference in their community and the world. My dream to have an orphanage and a school had now become a reality! And I and our other board members are committed to seeing that each of these children, are able to grow up in this safe and loving home.
As partners we have a goal to raise $20,000.00 this year to help sustain and support the orphanage. The continued rise in the cost of living in Kabul makes it difficult to meet the financial demands of running a home and school for 28 children. It is critical to these children’s lives that they are able to grow up in this home environment and continue the education they are receiving. We believe at AAOH every child in Afghanistan has the opportunity to make a difference in the world and we have the opportunity to help bring them hope and create a better future for them. With out the House of Flowers these children would be vulnerable to terrorist networks, drug-lords, and war lords, which will perpetuate the unrest in our world and in the lives of our children here in the US.
Please look at the children’s photos and read their stories and select one child you would like to sponsor. You can make a difference by giving these children the home life, education, and hope they deserve. It would only take 28 families, individuals, socially conscious groups or businesses to each sponsor a child at the House of Flowers for a year to reach our goal.
My husband and I have committed to sponsoring two children each year.
Your contribution to the life of a child would be $59.00 a month or $714.00 for the year. Your loving gift would be a way for you and your family to know that you were making a huge difference in the world. You will receive a photo and the personal history of the child and AAOH board members will personally see that your child receives any letters or gifts as we travel to Afghanistan each year. We would also make an effort to bring back letters, drawings and updated photos to you from your sponsored child. Dr. Vaziri and his partner Allison Lyde will make sure we all receive frequent updates by e mail.
Please contact Diana Haskins at dihaskins@aol.com for any questions or simply select the child you want to sponsor and send your tax deductible check to:
A Little Help
C/O AAOH
5710 Hollister Ave. #155
Goleta, CA 93117
We will contact you to get the photo and history of your child to you.
If you are not able to sponsor a child but, feel compelled to help. Every dollar makes a difference and 100% of your donation goes to the aid of these children. Please send your 501 (c)(3) tax deductible donations to:
A Little Help
C/O AAOH
5710 Hollister Ave. #155
Goleta, CA 93117
If You Prefer to use your Credit Card to make a donation,
please click on the following link, which will take you to the
"Contribute Page" at A Little Help's website.
www.stasek.com/alittlehelp/contribute.shtml
*Be sure and notate that your donation is for AAOH Projects
(see image below)
Diana Haskins
President, AAOH
- 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
