September 2010

September 23, 2010

We hope you like our new website - it has some striking pictures and we trust you will enjoy reading about our work in Afghanistan and what we’re doing in schools here in the UK and with a growing number of groups across the country. We particularly value our links with Afghan groups in London and elsewhere and, as part of our Building Bridges programme, we are keen to help them share their own experiences and insights about Afghanistan with their neighbours and local communities.

OUR WORK IN KABUL

Things are developing in our work in Kabul. Our small carpet factory and training school has 60 people on site at present and we’re moving into a new phase, thanks to generous support from Ashram International and Control Risks. T2GO is the name we’ve given (Train to Go) to our Incubation Centre, where young men and women who have completed initial training can spend a further 6 months enhancing their weaving skills and acquiring business and IT skills and some English language. The Incubation Centre is on our site so they’ll still be able to continue with their literacy and numeracy classes and have access to on-site healthcare and food.

WE’RE DIVERSIFYING

We are also diversifying - and actively researching the opportunities for sewing and making clothing and uniforms, mainly for the local market in Kabul. Samad Samadi, one of our Board members, has been in Kabul for three months overseeing the excellent work of our Kabul management, training and support team and our weavers
and trainees. He has brought back some sample Afghan kites and we hope shortly to introduce these into British schools, as part of our awareness raising work. If they take off (ooops!), we will set up a small project in Kabul to supply us with kites.

Please click on the Buzzbank icon on our website. It’s an innovative programme to raise the investment we need to expand T2GO and it’s one of the most imaginative approaches I’ve come across - we are delighted to be working with Buzzbank. You’ll see a range of different ways of supporting our work - and if you order a carpet, you’ll be directly supporting our T2GO weavers and helping them develop their own businesses.

SCHOOLS’ WORK

We’re very grateful to three schools for ordering carpets which pupils have designed. Wanstead High School started the idea and their carpet was delivered just before Easter. There’s a carpet for Queen Anne School Reading which has now been completed and will shortly arrive. The school has been actively supporting our work and we are most grateful. And Kelmscott School in Waltham Forest have also ordered a carpet, which is currently being made.

We’ve been working with three primary schools in Newham and they kindly raised money for our work at a fete held in July. They also had two teams of 10 year olds debating Human Rights in Afghanistan - a deeply inspiring occasion which filled me with hope for the future.

Our work with schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire is now into its second year and the children are very enthusiastic and eager to learn more. You can read about the schools’ work and children’s comments on the website - just click on the “schools” link.

Harpenden and Hammersmith schools are linking through the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms programme with schools in Mazar e Sharif and Kabul. Also in Harpenden, the local scouts and cubs have been finding out about Afghanistan. The cubs had a great time, including the chance to make fearsome (!) weapons out of newspaper and then engage in battle.. before stopping to reflect on the dreadful mess which real war and conflict creates and the casualties, many of them innocent bystanders, who suffer as a result.

FUNDRAISING

On the August Bank Holiday weekend, a group of hardy people aged between 7 and 70 climbed the All Munro in the Scottish Highlands. We were inspired by Michael Howell, who has climbed 25 Munros to raise funds of our work. He set out to raise £5000 and the figure has now passed £20,000. We’re immensely grateful to Michael and his wife Susan and all who have sponsored and supported him. Among the climbers was Ettie Shattock, who has also been walking the South West Coastal walk to raise money for our work in Afghanistan. She has completed half of the 630 mile walk and we are most grateful for what she has achieved so far. She starts at University in Newcastle this term and we wish her well. See the Fundraisers icon on the website - and thank you all, individuals, trusts, faith groups, local organisations and companies, for your ongoing support.

BUILDING BRIDGES

Building Bridges is our national programme to raise awareness across the UK about Afghanistan - and you can read more by clicking on the Building Bridges link.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

We’d like to draw your attention to some important events coming up. Please check our Events icon for details.

On 24 September, Afghan Tales is on at the Asian Music Centre in Acton, West London and on 7 October the Afghan Fashion Show will be held at the Porchester Hall in London W2. On 21 October the opera Hansel and Gretel is being performed at Goodenough College, near Kings Cross in support of our work. We also have events - from conferences to Afghan cookery - being organised in various locations across the UK. Watch for details on the website.

Thank you very much for all your interest and support - it makes a huge difference.

Chris Beales