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Recomended Donation list for Afghanistan
Emmy Award Winning " NBC Moving Pictures"
Final Report from May 2008 Trip
Trust In Education
PO Box 936
Lafayette, CA 94549
Phone: (925) 299-2010
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BRINGING EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO VILLAGES IN AFGHANISTAN.
Education when combined with health care and economic development programs provide immediate relief and are the solutions to ending cyclical poverty. All programs are implemented in partnership with the community, thereby empowering Afghan communities with control over their lives.
Trust in Education (TIE) is a grass roots, non-profit organization founded in May 2003 to provide health care, education and economic development programs in Afghanistan. An equal amount of time is devoted to educating Americans about our involvement in Afghanistan, past, present and future. TIE is making direct connections between American communities and Afghan villages. Through these exchanges everyone discovers that we share more in common than not and experience the joy of making a substantial and long lasting difference in the lives of thousands.
REBUILDING IN LALANDER, AFGHANISTAN
TIE first provided funding to build a secular school in Lalander, Afghanistan that opened in March, 2005. It is now attended by more than 140 boys and 65 girls. “Their school” is within a 15-minute walk from home, instead of the three hours it once took to reach schools in Kabul. In March 2006, adult education courses were added thereby enabling both young and old to learn.
ON THE ROAD TO SELF RELIANCE
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Water, water everywhere except here... |
Abdullah Jan, a village leader, stood along a hillside that lacked only water to once again become productive. A TIE sponsored irrigation project was completed in 2005. In March 2006, 12,981 fruit trees provided by TIE were planted by over 200 Afghan farming families. TIE has received requests for over 15,000 additional trees which it hopes it can provide in March 2007.
Courses have been provided to implement the organic “bio-intensive” farming techniques developed by John Jeavons. The vegetable yield potential is in the range of 2 to 6 times U.S. commercial mechanized levels (with an average of 4 times).” For a description of his work and farming techniques visit the website http://www.growbiointensive.org/biointensive/GROW-BIOINTENSIVE.html.
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The villagers have chosen to produce fruits and vegetables over opium, a much longer and arduous path toward economic freedom. |
| One of many sheep funded with a microcredit loan from TIE. |  |
TIE founder, Budd MacKenzie and Rahmanuddin Nemati, a former resident of Lalander, now living in Contra Costa County, California, force a photo opportunity with a sheep purchased with one of TIE’s interest free micro credit loans made to village families. A $500 loan used to purchase sheep can generate a profit of $300 - $400 in a year. Afghanistan’s per capita income is $200 per year, the fifth poorest country in the world.
Over 140 micro credit loans have been made, 30 of which were recently made to widows. Widows are the poorest and most vulnerable members of Afghan society. For the cost of a few dinners out with friends we are able to launch an entrepreneur on the path to economic freedom.
The decisions of who to loan and for what purposes are made following consultation with village leaders. In essence the village is gaining a revolving credit line with which the villagers can work their way out of poverty.
EXPANDING AWARENESS WITHIN AND BEYOND OUR COMMUNITY
Equally important to providing educational opportunities for Afghan children and adults is educating Americans about Afghanistan. To that end Trust In Education has undertaken the following:
- Over 50 speaking engagements have been arranged for numerous civic groups and schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Presently our mantra is “Have forum – Will travel.”
- “Change for Change” drives have been held in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Los Altos, and Piedmont, California. Over 300,000 coins have been collected. Regular and periodic reports are made at the schools to inform our children how “their” change and lemonade stand profits are making a difference.
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American children are exchanging drawings, photos and short messages with Lalander’s children. Lauren Mitchell’s drawing, left, has been posted in Lalander and her sentiment surpasses all that could be written or spoken. |
Education is the key that unlocks all doors.
Join us in delivering education to Afghans who have had no access for too long.
For more information, please contact:
Trust In Education
P.O. Box 936
Lafayette, CA 94549
(925) 299-2010
www.trustineducation.org
