Save Poor Afghan Families From Starving

Winter is the most difficult time for the poor and needy in Afghanistan.  It is cold,  and food and fuel are scarce.  In February 2013, AIL Herat staff distributed food packets of  rice, oil, beans, and peas to many poor  families.  AIL staff estimates that each food packet they distribute provides food for as many as 10 people in a family.  With this distribution, hundreds of poor women, men and children had food for a week.   One women, whose husband is a drug addict, has nine children and is very poor;  she was so grateful for the food for her family.  

We have included a few of the pictures from the distribution in this report. 

Thank you so much for your support for this project!!

The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) and Creating Hope International (CHI) would like to wish you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons.  As you celebrate with those you love, please take a moment to look at CHI’s yearly newsletter, which we’ve attached to this report. As you will see, 2012 has been a transformative year for AIL and CHI. After years of working tirelessly to provide education, training and healthcare to Afghans, we are beginning to see a real change. The minds of those AIL works with are being opened to the possibility of a peaceful Afghan society. 

AIL is in the process of finalizing a 5 year funding plan, which will be put into place beginning in 2013. We are looking forward to sharing the details of this plan with you soon, and hope that you will find it in your heart to give generously to help us reach our goal. The people of Afghanistan are making great strides, but our work is not done yet. Instead of backing down, we need to push ahead and continue to give Afghans the tools they need to create a more peaceful country. We are hoping that we can count on you to help continue our work. 

• Annual Newsletter (PDF)
  

Thank you for all you have contributed towards helping AIL feed those Afghans in need. While the conditions in Afghanistan are still challenging, AIL is seeing positive changes in the lives of those Afghans that it works with. 

Last winter AIL office in Herat determined that it was more helpful to identify families in great need, and to give these families monthly packages of staple foods such as rice, flour, oil and more instead of giving sporadic help to a wide variety of people. Since this way of administering the program was so successful, the staff at the Herat office is currently working with village leaders to identify more families to add to the food assistance program. These families will be added soon, as winters in Herat can be very harsh, even more so for those who are in need. Thank you for helping AIL expand this program to more families. 

Don’t forget!  The holidays are a great time to share your passion for AIL and the great work that they do! GlobalGiving offers gift certificates which can be used to donate to AIL’s projects. Also, beginning December 1^st, the initial donation made by recurring donors will be matched 100% by GlobalGiving. There is only $25,000 available in matching funds, so help AIL take advantage of this opportunity early! 

The AIL office in Herat is continuing to provide monthly food assistance to the poor families previously identified by the village elders. These families receive a package each month which includes rice, cooking oil, flour and other staples. As winter approaches, the AIL office will again meet with village elders to identify more families who are in need of assistance and will be adding them to the food assistance program.  

The AIL Herat Office continues to provide monthly assistance to those families that were identified by the village elders.  These families receive enough staples to last through the month.  The staples include rice, vegetable oil and flour.  The families are so thankful for the help of AIL, and we wouldn’t be able to provide for them without your kind donations.  From them and from all of us at CHI and AIL – we say Thank You!!

Please remember that Wednesday, June 13^th (beginning at 12:01 AM EST) is a Bonus Day through Global Giving.  Donations received that day will be provided a matching gift of 30, 40 or 50 percent.