2006 Year In Review!

Despite several significant and on-going challenges in 2006, Help the Afghan Children had another remarkable year of delivering quality education to thousands of Afghan girls and boys and providing humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of families in underserved areas. As we complete our 13th. year of service to Afghanistan, here are just a few of our 2006 accomplishments:

We turned over 5 fully-functioning schools to Afghanistan's Ministry of Education after training school administration staff, improving teacher competencies, and implementing our innovative educational programs.

We effectively implemented computer education classes for high school students, including many 12th graders, providing them with necessary skills to seek employment in Afghanistan's emerging information technology field.

Our first cultural exchange project co-sponsored by HTAC and Girls Learn International was successfully completed. Students from Badakhshi Girls School in Afghanistan and students from Staten Island High School in New York successfully produced and exchanged School Guidebooks.

Through HTAC's training and coaching of local community leaders, Community School Committee meetings increased from an average of 1.5 to 12 per year, reflecting increased support of our schools and local community investment in their children's education.

We began measuring teacher effectiveness using our new teacher competency standards.

We distributed critical school supplies to 8,500 displaced children who were returning to Afghanistan with their families.

We distribute medical supplies and other humanitarian aid to hospitals, clinics, and refugee camps, benefiting an estimated 50,000 people.

Recognition:

• HTAC and our Executive Director, Suraya Sadeed, were recognized by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House for our outstanding work and dedication to improving the lives of Afghan children.
• Suraya Sadeed was the featured guest speaker at AmeriCares Annual Meeting in Connecticut.
  HTAC again received the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance National Charity Seal of Approval after having met their comprehensive standards of donor and operations accountability.
• HTAC's Op--Ed article on the importance of investing in education in Afghanistan was featured in the Chicago Sun Times
• Suraya Sadeed was featured on NBC's Weekend Today Show's Courageous Hearts segment.

In the face of earlier natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes) that diverted anticipated funding, the politics of government - sponsored funding initiatives, and the rise of violence in several Afghan provinces, our achievements in 2006 were remarkable, but we could not have done it without the on-going support of our donors. For every child we reach, educate, and give hope to - you are there with us. Thank you for all you do!
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Cultural Exchange Project Launched!

Dominique is a 15 year-old 10th. grade student at the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies in New York who wants to become an international broadcast journalist. Arzoo is a 17 year-old 10th. grade Afghan student at Badakhshi Girls School in Nejrab, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan who also dreams of becoming a journalist. Staten Island, New York and Nejrab, Afghanistan are almost on opposite sides of the world and until recently, neither Dominique nor Arzoo knew one another, their common career goals, nor had any knowledge about each other's schools.

Not anymore. Thanks to a wonderful partnership between Help the Afghan Children and Girls Learn International, we've been able to link selected student groups from Staten Island and Badakhshi to create an amazing cultural exchange program. Our program has two major objectives: Generate interest in cross - cultural learning in the USA and Afghanistan and raise awareness, and broaden attitudes of students, teachers, parents, and communities between these countries.

Their first exchange project was a School Guidebook that included: school photos, daily schedules, subjects taught, school activities, and school history. Not only did the students gain an appreciation of each other's cultures and learned of their shared desire for better understanding and world peace, they also discovered that they shared many common interests, hopes, and dreams - just like future journalists - Dominique and Arzoo. Who knows? Perhaps one day they'll meet and collaborate on an international story about their respective countries.

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Meet Our Students

Over the past several years, many of our readers have been fascinated and touched by our occasional stories featuring just a few of the many thousands of Afghan girls and boys attending our schools - and you've wanted to see more.

With that thought in mind, HTAC is proud to have you meet and connect with more of these wonderful students – the children who are benefiting from your support.

In Afghanistan, the ability for children to successfully complete their basic education, especially for girls, is challenging. There are significant pressures on families to have their sons begin working or for their daughters to enter into early marriage, both of which bring the family additional money. Despite these challenges, most parents want to see their sons and daughters attend school and eventually become productive citizens. Afghan children themselves have an incredible desire to learn and obtain an education. They are bright, energetic and many have career goals. How many of them will have the opportunity to pursue those goals will largely depend on their ability to stay in school.

That's where you, our donors, come in. Your contributions make it possible for us to bring quality education to thousands of children, inspiring them to want to learn more and, in turn, motivating their parents to do all they can to support them during these critical years.

That's why we thought you would like to see some of the students you are helping to make education and a future - not just a dream - but a reality.