“Journey with an Afghan School”- Student Donations

March 16, 2007

Hello parents!

Most of you know by now that we have a sister school in Mazar-e-sharif, Afghanistan. The school was built through a grassroots effort which began right here at Coe just a few months after 9-11 and the Taliban were removed from power in Afghanistan. Human rights advocate Julie Bolz who founded a project called “Journey with an Afghan School”, taught our students about the plight of children in Afghanistan, and that what communities wanted and needed most were schools for their children. Coe parents and students rallied that year to raise money to help build the very first school in this project. The students gathered their change, and asked for money instead of birthday presents. Some donated a portion of their allowance and some collected money by playing music on the street corner on Queen Anne Avenue. It was amazing to watch our children spring into action to raise money for children in need on the other side of the world! Coe is now a role model for other schools across the country that are participating in this project.

Though our sister school was turned over to the Afghan government after construction was complete, there are many ways that it still needs support. Last year for example, the roof needed repairs. Money we raised last year funded this. We have committed to $3600 per year to support our sister school.

So we ask the students again for their pennies, their nickels, their dimes, or any amount they can give; parents are welcome to join with donations. We have proven that when we work together, we can accomplish great things! I will be collecting from classrooms the next 3 Fridays. If your student would like to participate please put any donations in an envelope marked “Journey with an Afghan School” and turn it in to their teacher by the following Fridays:

March 23 ~ March 30 ~ April 6

I will collect from the classrooms these days. For information about how the money will be spent and the impact we are having, read the back of this.

All the best,

Barbara Ford

Some items the money will likely be used for are:

1. Heaters - it is very cold in the winter and the school has to close

during winter months.

2. Additional classrooms - When the school was built, 400 girls

attended. There are now 1,000 girls and they have to go to school in shifts.

3. Generator - electricity is frequently unreliable

4. A playground – there is currently nothing.

Following is one of the most compelling anecdotes I have heard regarding how our contributions are changing lives in Afghanistan:

One of the girls was forbidden by her father to go to school. She was so motivated to continue her education that she found ways to attend without his knowledge, even though she risked the possibility of severe punishment. One day her father received a letter from a relative that he could not read and she bravely stepped forward and read it to him. He never complained about her going to school after that, and soon after, the school grew from 400 to 1,000 students.

Before we worked with Julie to build that first school, the children met in fields for school, abandoned houses, or tents. They had no supplies like pencils and paper. Many did not attend these informal meetings.

Please let your children know what important work they are doing when they raise money for our sister school in Afghanistan.