...a little help

We have been doing wonderful work with your generous help. Photos from so many of our projects are in the yearly galleries. Here is financial information about the various projects:

Girls' Education - Girl's schools are being targeted from every side by the Taliban, insurgents and just plain criminals. We are trying to do small, direct projects in areas where the big players can't or won't go.

March 2007 $270 - Textbooks for the first class of 12th grade girls at Chagcharan school in Ghor province
June 2007 $Priceless - English as a Second Language Textbooks for the Girls' School at Chagcharan in Ghor province (in-kind donation)
June 2007 $8 - add to Danish military donation to buy an additional tent for girls' school in Ghor province
July 2007 $5856 - 3 tents and a surrounding wall for Zarghuna Girls' School in Chak-i Wardak
August 2007 $214 - lab equipment for Naheed-i Shaheed Girls' High School in Takhar
October 2007 $845.46 - mats to cover the ground for girls' school tents in Ghor
June 2008 $9568 - school tents and mats for girls' schools in Dowlat Yar district of Ghor province
July 2008 $8574 - Science training for girls' school teachers in Dowlat Yar district of Ghor province
August 2008 $1400 - school tents and mats for girls' schools in Dowlat Yar district of Ghor province
May 2009 $266 - school supplies for girls in Kabul prison
May 2009 $21,556.32 - Naswan School #2 Faizabad desks, library, science lab, school supplies, tents

Women's Prisons

Read Rachel Wareham's incredible report on the situation.
May 2002 $80 - personal packets for prisoners including soap and sanitary products
December 2002 $643 - floor mats, heaters, sweaters, medicines and personal items for the women. (A floor mat was seen in a picture of a prisoner in the Summer 2003 edition of Ms. magazine)
June 2003 $4584 - rebuilding 5 rooms in the prison
Many photos of the prison can be seen in the June 2003 Scrapbook
June 2003 $25 - personal hygiene supplies for women
March 2004 $38.98 - personal hygiene supplies for women and gifts for children
July 2008 $12 - rent truck to deliver 18 cartons of children's clothes
August 2008 $Priceless - 18 cartons of children's clothes
April 2009 $100 - personal hygiene kits for women at Parwan prison
May 2009 $2800 - Pad for Prisons project supplying materials so women prisoners can sew re-usable hygiene pad sets
Spring/Summer 2009 $744 - bi-weekly yogurt for women and children at Kabul prison

Partner Projects - We've been working in Afghanistan so long now, people are asking us to help them with their projects. We're delighted to do what we can.

June 2007 - $7440 - 24,000 Math and Dari textbooks for primary schools in Ghor province purchased with funding from the Danish military on the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
June 2007 - $1103.60 - Funding for a computer and internet service for the Afghanistan Blind Association on behalf of A Better World, Canada.
June 2007 $3600 - 15 tents for girls' schools in Ghor province funded by a generous donation from A Better World, Canada.
June 2007 $5032 - 21 tents for girls' schools in Ghor province purchased with funding from the Danish military on the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
October 2007 $1386.54 - mats to cover the ground for girls' school tents in Ghor from A Better World, Canada.
November 2007 $7612 - teacher school supplies for Ghor province purchased with funding from the Danish military on the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
June 2008 $2392 - tents and mats for schools in Ghor province purchased with funding from the Danish military on the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
August 2008 $3540 - tents and mats for schools in Ghor province purchased with funding from the Danish and Croatian military on the Provincial Reconstruction Team.
May 2008 - 16,974.70 - House of Flowers orphanage received 6-months rent for the facility along with furniture and school supplies for the kids thanks to a grant from Ambassadors for Children.
June 2008 $2617.80 - 83 partially-sighted students and 11 teachers from the Kabul Blind School received eye exams, new glasses and needed medications thanks to another gift from A Better World, Canada.
July 2009 Logistical Support - Child development training for mothers at women's prison conducted by School is Open.
July 2009 Logistical Support - Science teacher training in Daikundi province conducted by School is Open.

Kabul School for the Blind

May 2008 $23.40 - Needle threaders for blind sewers
Throughout 2008 $Priceless - Yarn and knitting needs from US knitters
October 2008 $193 - Braille paper
February 2009 $3951 - Braille paper
Throughout 2009 $Priceless - Yarn and knitting needs from US knitters
July 2009 $3330 - Science teacher training

Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan - young women breaking cultural barriers with powerful contemporary art in a variety of media. Learn more here.

June 2008 $707.14 - art supplies including oil and water-based paints and brushes
Winter 2008 $3000 - salaries for teachers for beginning art course
Spring 2009 $3200 - salaries for teachers for beginning art course

Maternity Wards - Jane Sinense has formed the Rabia Balkhi Hospital Project and is working to raise money for maternity care in Afghanistan. We are delighted to be her partner in Afghanistan. Many pictures in the scrapbooks over the years.

March 2004 $2,685 - medicines and surgical equipment purchased in Kabul
March 2004 $1296.60 - medicines purchased in the US brought to Kabul
June 2004 $307 - medicines for children's ward at Khair Khana hospital
June 2004 $530 - water pump for Khair Khana hospital (we paid $530 for this?)
July 2007 $179.58 - Cytotec for Ghor provincial hospital maternity unit
August 2007 $352.18 - Cytotec for Ghor provincial hospital maternity unit
August 2007 $2370 - supplies for maternity unit at Chagcharan hospital including medicines, baby clothes and maxipads.
August 2007 $875 - cryosurgical unit for Rabia Balkhi hospital
December 2007 $146 - N2O tank and fitting for crysurgical unit
December 2007 $Priceless - Infant clothes and blankets for maternity unit at Chagcharan hospital (in-kind donation)
August 2008 $Priceless - Infant clothes and blankets for maternity unit at Chagcharan hospital (in-kind donation)

Afshar Hospital - In our largest project to date, the Afshar Hospital will provide critical medical services to women and girls in a predominantly Hazara ethnic area of the city which was completely destroyed during the civil infighting of the 90's. While we normally don't do capital projects, we couldn't pass up this incredible opportunity and Kathleen Rafiq is doing her usual magic with bricks and cement. Follow the progress in pictures.

October 2005 $143,641 - building materials and construction labor
October 2005 $24,970 - consulting fees
October 2005 $5725 - operational and engineering expenses
May 2006 $99,955 - construction materials and labor
June 2006 $199,955 - construction materials and labor
October 2006 $199,930 - construction materials and labor
December 2006 $249,945 - construction materials and labor
April 2007 $148,985 - construction materials and labor
May 2007 $149, 985 - construction materials and labor
July 2007 $299,985 - finishing materials and labor for interior of hospital
October 2007 $224,985 - finishing materials and labor for interior of hospital
November 2007 $99,945 - finishing materials and labor for interior of hospital
March 2008 $199,945 - equipment and labor
April 2008 $199,945 - equipment and labor
July 2008 $199,945 - equipment and labor
September 2008 $90,075 - equipment and labor
December 2008 $225,693.77 - equipment and labor

Wardak Projects - Kathleen Rafiq has several incredible projects running in rural Wardak province with significant support from individual donors, The Waterford Foundation and Direct Relief.

September 2003 $1,044 - donation from The Waterford Foundation to purchase blankets, clothing and school and personal supplies for orphans at Wardak school for orphans. (photo of a few of the blankets). Pictures of the school and students can be seen in the March 2004 scrapbook.
May 2005 $6,000 - piping and plumbing for running water to orphanage school
June 2005 $10,000 - expansion of clinic for 24-hour care
June 2005 $2250 - bicycles for teachers, clothes and play equipment for orphans
July 2005 $11,000 - reservoir and pump for clean drinking water
October 2005 $19,000 - pharmacy and women's center
March 2007 $194.09 - postage to ship clothes donation to Kabul
August 2007 $2,140 - partial purchase of land for orphans' farming project
September 2008 $15 - seeds for orphan farming project

Scholarship Fund - in the tradition of our non-traditional giving, we are helping women pursue new career goals.

October 2005 $1,100 - Young woman in Ariana Airlines flight attendant program
March 2006 $200 - Young woman in Ariana Airlines flight attendant program
December 2006 $700 - Subsidy to attend leadership course in New York
April 2007 $ 200 - Housing deposit for Afghan student to attend internship in Washington DC (requested refund, denied by American University)
April 2007 $18.20 - Fee for Afghan passport for intern candidate
May 2007 $300 - Travel expenses to American consulate in Islamabad for visa for internship in US. Visa denied by US office in Pakistan for no good reason. Just our opinion.
July 2008 $1,601.51 - Travel expenses to American consulate in Islamabad for student visa. Female student completed 1-year research fellowship on international law at US university
August 2008 $25 - portion of Dubai visa for trip to US for law student
December 2008 $237.45 - law books for female law student
Spring/Summer 2009 $1350 - books, transport and lunch for Kabul University literature student

Single Project Donations - We are always ready to provide assistance for small, urgent needs.

May 2002 $114 - small donations to local schools for supplies
Many photos of the schools can be seen in the May 2002 Scrapbook
May 2002 $20 - material for sewing class at Aschina vocational school.
Pictures: photo1, photo2, photo3
March 2004 $140.70 - film and digital cameras for local non-profits' program work
March 2004 $520.90 - 10 tubs of Silvadene burn cream for Noor Hospital
June 2004 $126.46 - physiology textbooks for young woman medical student
April 2005 $1635 - Leapfrog learning pads for literacy training in Dari and Pashto
March 2006 $93.31 - stethoscope for doctor
November 2006 $37 - sewing machine for young woman tailor
October 2007 $48.61 - rent car to transport 7 cases of English as a Second Language textbook donation from Dubai to Sharjah for free cargo flight to Kabul
October 2007 $1,000 - $40 given to each of 25 women injured in Karte Parwan bombing
July 2008 $300 - subsistence donation to widow and family
October 2008 $765.43 - equipment for Youth Radio station in Chagcharan
November 2008 $1000 - emergency food relief for village in Ghor province
December 2008 $72.55 - equipment for Chagcharan Youth Radio Station

Project Chairs - Shqipe Malushi is heading up this project to provide high-quality desks to provincial schools. Here is an example of the sturdy desk. And you can hear the whole adventure when they got delivered in this March podcast.

December 2006 $675.25 - desks for Chak-e Wardak school
January 2007 $899.75 - desks for Chak-e Wardak school
March 2007 $1924 - desks for Chak-e Wardak school

Afghan Center Family Fund - The Afghan Center is hosting 5 girls from a local shelter every afternoon for computer classes, English lessons and sports.

June 2004 $105 - English workbooks, storybooks, bookbags
June 2004 $1500 - fund for medical expenses, clothing, monthly allowance

Tigger House - Our mission is to help women and girls in need. You thought than only meant human women and girls? At the Tigger House animal shelter mothers and their puppies and kittens are being rescued from certain abuse and disease in a city that treats dogs and cats with great cruelty. Learn More.

February 2006 $11.85 - English dictionary for staff
April 2006 $78.92 - Canine, feline, bovine and equine anatomical charts
October 2007 $64.94 - special donation to purchase flea medicine

Afghan Center Preserving Classes - Most of my June 2004 trip was spent teaching women to make preserves. Most of the expenses were covered by the Afghan Center's USAID/PRM grant for the program, but we brought some extra equipment. Pictures from the classes are in the June 2004 scrapbook.

May 2004 $5.41 - mason jars
June 2004 $79.81 - instant read thermometers and jar lifters
Picture of jars shipped from US being unloaded

Microrayan III Clinic - The tireless Kathleen Rafiq has been working to construct a medical clinic for children and their mothers at the kindergarten in Microrayan III in Kabul. Wonderful pictures of the children in the March 2004 scrapbook.

September 2003 $3,956 - donation from The Waterford Foundation to complete construction of the metal roof, purchase rugs, desk and chairs. (beautiful photo of roof)
March 2004 $301.58 - medical equipment
March 2004 $460 - furniture: large supply cabinets with locks, exam table, patient waiting chairs (shown in March 2004 scrapbook pictures)
January 2005 $3000 - doctor salary
June 2005 $750 - freight forwarder fee for container of donated medical supplies

Educational Outreach - An important part of our mission is educational outreach to help Americans understand life in Afghanistan. When Kathleen Rafiq isn't busy building orphanages, clinics and hospitals, she is using the media and school visits to share Afghan stories with students in the US. And of course there are all of our speaking engagements.

January 2004 $1028.36 - computer projector for slideshows
April 2005 $2,000 - documentary filmmaking trip to Afghanistan and film processing
June 2005 $59.93 - ship sample Afghan handicrafts and clothing to US
June 2005 $2,000 - computer and digital photo equipment
December 2005 $1,249 - digital photo printing and processing equipment
September 2008 $100 - Women's Peace conference
September 2008 $12 - Chadari (burqua) for lectures in US

Indira Ghandi Children's Hospital

May 2002 $40 - donation to nursing staff
May 2002 $36 - powdered milk and biscuits
Many photos of the hospital can be seen in the May 2002 Scrapbook
October 2005 $17,625 - drill well for hospital

Dashti Barchi Well

June 2005 $12,750 - drill well
October 2005 $2,000 - repair well

Dr. Roshanak Clinic - She's a member of Parliament. She's an obstetrician/gynecologist/general practitioner. She has a one-room clinic in her home in Wardak. Dr. Roshanak Wardak is a wonder and we're trying to help supply some of the simple things she needs for the women who patiently wait in her yard for her to return from running the country and deliver their babies.

May 2006 $100 - Pre-natal vitamins
September 2006 $500 - Pre-natal vitamins

Kabul Beauty School - We were delighted to have provided direct support to this program to help women train for lucrative, non-traditional jobs. The Kabul Beauty School now has its own non-profit status and you can keep up with their work.

June 2004 $1500 - instructor payment for 3 1-hour English classes per week from July through December 2004
June 2004 $1450 - English language workbooks and tapes for almost 100 students
June 2004 $178 - cosmetics and beauty supplies
August 2004 $1092 - fall '04 class instructor salaries
October 2004 $200 - used beauty salon equipment
Fall/Winter 2004 $priceless - 20-foot container load of beauty salon supplies, equipment and furniture
Fall/Winter 2004 $372.73 - truck rental, gas and labor to gather donated beauty equipment and supplies and deliver to Oakland warehouse for shipment. (shown in 2005 scrapbook pictures)
December 2004 $1438.20 - mannequin heads for students
December 2004 $898.43 - beauty supplies
December 2004 $7.95 - register kabulbeautyschool.com domain
January 2005 $1,000 - interior construction of new Oasis salon for apprentice training
January 2005 $ 330.01 - labor and fuel to load donated equipment onto container for shipment from Oakland to Kabul (shown in 2005 scrapbook pictures)
January 2005 $1,500 - container shipment from Oakland to Karachi
January 2005 $537.86 - salon furniture
January 2005 $129.88 - beauty supplies
April 2005 $7,000 - toward 5-year lease of new classroom building
April 2005 $210.76 - beauty supplies
June 2005 $34.69 - beauty supplies and ship donations
August 2005 $222.76 - beauty supplies and ship donations
September 2005 $2,505 September staff salaries
September 2005 $3,850 - 6-month rent for staff house
September 2005 $9,000 - 6-month rent for Oasis Salon
September 2005 $473.60 - remodel new school building
September 2005 $260.59 - beauty and school supplies
October 2005 $4882 - staff salaries and operational expenses
October 2005 $2067 - 2 scholarships and graduation kits
December 2005 $8.75 - domain renewal for website
March 2006 $1,000 - Spring 2006 beauty school class

Other Accomplishments

May 2002 - met with (then) Chairman Hamid Karzai to discuss the role of women in the reconstruction (photo).
June 2003 - met with Minister of Education to discuss issue of married women students being denied access to high school classes
June 2003 - prepared report on application of CEDAW provisions for Minister of Women's Affairs
June 2003 - attended Gender Sector meeting in Kabul to gain information on the broad spectrum of work being done by NGO's on women's issues
February 2005 - visited Pul-e Charki prison to monitor conditions of women prisoners
September 2008 - received scholarship to attend Women's Peace conference in San Diego

Trip Expense Reports

Your donations are used with great care and go directly to help women and girls. Here are detailed financial reports of the trips showing all the expenses. Travel expenses are covered by honoraria and reimbursements from speaking engagements and gifts from a very special donor specifically for that purpose.