Bringing Green to Afghanistan

It has already been a busy Spring for the Afghan Institute of Learning’s (AIL) green projects.  In Herat, 220 various trees and flowers were planted in two new garden areas.  The plantings included roses, amaranths, and redbuds.  A section for vegetables was also included.

The children at the Orphanage Learning Center recently planted nine trees and many flowers on the grounds of the orphanage as part of the “Connecting Children With Nature” program developed by AIL. At another location in Herat, students of an AIL Learning Center planted eleven more trees and a variety of flowers at the courtyard of their school.

In Kabul, the staff at the AIL Learning Centers have involved the students from kindergarten through high school in planting.  They have planted more than 1000 trees and flowers this Spring at their local schools, learning centers, clinics and at the AIL Office.

 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.  

This has been an especially brutal winter for
Afghanistan with extremely cold temperatures and an abundance of snow. 
We are hopeful that all of last year’s trees, flowers and shrubs will
survive.  The children are anxious to continue their planting
around their schools and villages.  Because of the curriculum
provided last year, “Connecting Children With Nature”, we expect that the
students will have a better knowledge base about plants, soil, root structure,
watering and fertilizing. 

Please keep in mind that Wednesday, March 14, 2012 is Bonus Day
through Global Giving.  Donations up to $1,000.00 will be provided
with a 30% match.  The bonus allotment is $50,000.00 and the period
runs from 12:01 AM EST until the funds are exhausted.  So, if you
would like your donation to go a little further with the help of Global Giving,
give early on March 14^th.  Thank you!

As the planting season is over for this year in Afghanistan, the students are looking forward to Spring when they can see the trees that they planted last year blossom, and plant additional greenery around their schools and in their villages.  

We thank all of you who have supported this project in 2011. 

In August, the “Connecting Children with Nature” curriculum was expanded a little further.  In addition to the subjects mentioned in our last report, the following topics were covered:

            Information about tree/plant diseases and how to eliminate them

            Identifying different kinds of trees

            Controlling the growth of plants and trees

            Responsibility of people to establish a green environment

            How to make medicines from plants

 Another AIL Project, “Transform Lives of 70,000 Afghan Adolescent Girls” has been chosen to be part of the Girl Effect Challenge, which runs from October 15 through November 15, 2011.  Approximately 60 projects have been included in this challenge.  The top six projects with the highest number of unique donations will become part of the Girl Effect Fund for one year and each is expected to earn an additional $25,000.  Please check out our project #8791, and thank you for your generous support of our programs!

We are so excited about a new curriculum that has been developed by the staff of AIL called Connecting Children With Nature.  The staff has focused on introducing young children to horticulture in hopes that with a renewed interest and knowledge embedded in young people, the “greening” of Afghanistan will continue.

 Included in the curriculum are the following subjects:

• How we can make our house green with flowers in a short period of time
• How to make good soil in a vase
• How to plant trees for the green environment of our country and city
• How to grow flowers and trees better
• The value of greens and vegetables for the body of humans.
• Where to cultivate vegetables
• The economic value of vegetables for us.