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March 2007 Distribution by Marsha MacColl of Afghans 4 Tomorrow | ||
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In early 2007, knitters across the U.S. and Canada made 500 pairs of wool
socks for students at the schools in Kabul operated by Afghans 4 Tomorrow. Thank
you to the many volunteers who knit wonderfully distinctive, cheery, and warm
first-class socks!
We sent a range of sizes to make sure all the kids (ages 7-18) received a pair that fit. In March of that year, Afghans 4 Tomorrow Vice President Marsha MacColl personally delivered our socks to the girls and boys as part of her humanitarian work to bring relief, education, and joy to children in Afghanistan. |
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Marsha distributed our gifts with tremendous personal attention and regard for both the students and the sock-knitters! She conveyed to the kids that the socks were made especially for them by Americans and Canadians who want to express their friendship and caring. The girls and boys were given the unusual experience of selecting what they wanted from the large array of socks. Marsha said that the kids loved choosing their own colorful socks. Marsha creatively incorporated our socks in her English-language instruction. We also provided funds for snacks as part of a little celebration. Marsha shared larger socks with teachers and school staff, too. Socks offer a lot of value in a small garment. Many homes are poorly built and without a dependable heat source or any heat at all. Afghans 4 Tomorrow burns wood in their schools, but firewood is expensive. These kids needed wool socks -- often their feet are bare when they customarily remove their shoes in the classroom and at home. Marsha is a devoted and energetic champion for the Afghan people. She appreciates our lovely handiwork and the generosity and skill of our many volunteers. We marvel at Marsha's compassion and leadership. Afghans 4 Tomorrow is a U.S.-based non-profit relief and development organization. They have distributed material supplies to the people of Afghanistan for many years. We are most grateful to Marsha and Afghans 4 Tomorrow for their commitment to education and to rebuilding lives. Photos courtesy of Marsha MacColl and may not be copied or otherwise used for any purpose. Would you like to have a copy of one of these images from Afghanistan? Purchase our postcard featuring school girls receiving our wool socks! |
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2007 Distribution by Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children |
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In 2007, knitters and crocheters across the U.S. and Canada produced 700 wool hats for the Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children. Each hat was made in one of the circus' organizational colors -- bright red, yellow, blue, and green. | | |
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A most unusual and innovative organization, the Afghan Mobile Mini Circus (MMCC) provides education programs and informative entertainment for Afghan girls and boys. Their performances and programs draw on the talents and potential of the children themselves. Hundreds of thousands of children and teachers in 16 provinces have benefited from performances, workshops, and teacher-trainings. MMCC activities integrate educational messages and lessons about health, landmine safety, and peace. They train teachers on using creativity in the curriculum. MMCC is making the arts, play, joy, and learning a part of the lives of the people of war-torn Afghanistan. |
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MMCC's Berit, David, and Sharon said that everyone loved receiving our gift of a great mound of wool hats -- the colors, the varied patterns, and knowing that so many individuals took their own personal time to stitch the hats just for their children. As the vacuumed-sealed bags were opened, the kids shouted with joy and enthusiasm -- trying the hats on, modeling the hats for each other, and more goofing around! They said they could not stop laughing -- there's something funny and fun about seeing so many hats! MMCC says thank you for the beautiful and cheerful presents for their girls and boys. | |
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And, hats are good for more than you might imagine (video)!
(A short video file will download when you click on the link.) We wish the
Afghan Mobile Mini Circus all the best in keeping up the laughter, playing, and
learning. Photos courtesy of MMCC and may not be copied or otherwise used for any purpose. |
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2006 Distribution by International Orphan Care |
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In 2006, International Orphan Care (IOC) delivered our hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to several regions in Afghanistan. We received wonderful photographs depicting the distributions to Afghan children, women, and men. Please click the adjacent gallery to see a selection of these images. Please keep in mind that photography has been much less common in Afghanistan. These photos are a real treat for us. IOC partnered with several agencies to send our gifts far and wide -- from urban to rural areas. These photos show distributions to students at IOC's Jalalabad school, street children in Kabul, children in eastern Afghanistan, and families in villages in Big Pamir and Wakhan in the far north. No matter where, these recipients have few material possessions. A couple of the distributions occurred in remote areas that rarely receive relief missions and/or have limited winter access. |
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Our handmade gifts also appeared in a Canadian news reel from Afghanistan! The woman in the video is IOC leader Fauzia Assifi, who personally presented our hand-knit and crocheted garments to children in the streets of Kabul. Fauzia is a hands-on woman! The items shown in the clip include our gifts, as well as donations from other sources. Representing IOC, Fauzia expresses her gratitude to the generous volunteer knitters and crocheters and extends blessings to you all. Fauzia said that the recipients could see that each beautiful blanket or garment had been created with much time, care, and love. Fauzia reports that some of the women wanted to hang their new blankets on the walls because they are so lovely! We extend our heartfelt appreciation to IOC for their vital work serving the people of Afghanistan. Pursuing programs in education, health care, vocational training, and humanitarian relief, IOC has worked in Afghanistan for more than a dozen years. We thank IOC for distributing our handmade gifts with much respect and kindness toward those in need. Photos courtesy of IOC and may not be copied or otherwise used for any purpose. |
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2006 Distribution by Afghanistan Relief Organization |
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In 2006, Afghanistan Relief Organization (ARO) delivered our wool sweaters, hats, and socks to Kalafgan, in Takhar Province, a remote northeastern area that infrequently receives relief distributions. The location is mountainous and rugged. The truck drive from Kabul to Kalafgan is long and tiring. | | |
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The residents' lives are difficult. This area has a poor provincial economy, with unpaved roads and limited electricity and other utilities.
Food often costs more than in Kabul. Winter brings snow. ARO reports that recipients were very happy to receive our handmade garments. We are grateful to ARO for taking our gifts to the people of Kalafgan. ARO is a U.S.-based nonprofit that has provided humanitarian and educational services in Afghanistan since 1998. Photos courtesy of ARO and may not be copied or otherwise used for any purpose. |
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Distribution From Summer 2003 Campaign for 5,000 Children In Summer 2003, afghans for Afghans conducted a campaign to generate 5,000 wool hats, mittens, socks, and sweaters for children ages 1-5 years. Shipped overseas by World Concern, our gifts were distributed in December in time for the winter weather. |
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While we came close to the 5,000 mark for wool garments, we did not quite reach that number. The load was supplemented with additional blankets and other items. Our relief agency partner (an Afghan organization that works with Church World Service) distributed the garments in sets of 10 to each mother for her family -- 500 families in total. These families have many children of young ages. These families live in Mazar City, Alburz, Nehr-e-Shahi, and Khulam districts of the Balkh Province in the north. We depend on the relief agency for their expertise on how best to distribute our gifts. The plastic bags being handed to the mothers are filled with our knitted and crocheted gifts. | |
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Airline Ambassadors Delivers Our Gifts to Children in Kabul, December 2002 |
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Airline Ambassadors is comprised of airline professionals who voluntarily travel on humanitarian missions worldwide. In December 2002, after the Muslim holy period of Ramadan, Maryanne Havryluck and Lorrie Moore delivered our hand-knit and crocheted gifts to children ages 8-15 years at a rehabilitation center in Kabul. Oour gifts arrived just in time for the freezing temperatures. The rehabilitation center had no heat. Airline Ambassadors' missions are distinguished by their personable touch -- Maryanne and Lorrie arranged a party and distributed our knitted and crocheted items, plus toys and other supplies, as part of the festivities. The facility is dismal, and the children are traumatized, yet smiles and laughter abounded, Maryanne reported. We are grateful to Maryanne and Lorrie for their compassionate work. |
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The distributions described above were in addition to our other shipments of blankets and garments to displaced Afghan families since late 2001. We usually receive photos as part of the reports we receive on the distributions, although we don't always receive the kinds of photos that can be published publicly on our website. Some photos are for documentation purposes only. Thank you to all the knitters and crocheters who have responded enthusiastically to our campaigns and the need in Afghanistan. Your beautiful handiwork is warming children, women, and men. Your handmade gifts send a strong message of caring and respect to the people of this devastated country that's striving to rebuild. Our Partner, American Friends Service Committee With all our shipments, the American Friends Service Committee in San Francisco generously provides in-take on mail, storage services, and coordination assistance. |
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© 2008 afghans for Afghans. All rights reserved. |
