Afghanistan is in the news a lot these days. As a donor to a project in Afghanistan, you may be wondering if change is happening, and if your donation really makes any difference.
Following is a message from Dr. Sakena Yacoobi that answers your questions. It’s part of our annual newsletter, where we also share progress reports from several areas, and the impact AIL’s work is having in Afghan lives. This newsletter is below in a PDF format; we invite you to click on it and read ALL the details……

From Sakena Yacoobi:

First, I want to thank all of you for supporting the work of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). Your support is so important. Yes, the funds you send help us to bring education and health to so many Afghan women and children. But, more importantly, in this time of increasing violence and insecurity in Afghanistan, your support helps Afghans to know that they are not forgotten. It gives ordinary Afghan women, men and children the courage to keep studying, to keep going to clinics and to keep working for peace.

Today you probably hear that Afghanistan is a place of war, terrorist bombings, burning of schools, kidnapping, drugs and all kinds of other horrible things. And it is true that in every province of Afghanistan, including the capitol, every single day, these kinds of things are happening. But what you might not hear in your news is that everyday many women, men and children of Afghanistan get up in the morning….. say goodbye to their family…..and go to work….. go to schools and centers ….. go to trainings……because they know that they must be educated. They know that the only way they can stop these problems is to be educated. So they are learning, they are teaching and they are not afraid.

And when there is no electricity or no clean water or no school or no road or no job and there is no help from the national government or the international agencies, Afghans, particularly women, are joining together in community or with their local officials to find ways to solve their own
problems. And, with your help, AIL is helping them to do this.

I want to let you know that as dark as it seems to be in Afghanistan now, much is happening. Afghans, themselves, are changing. They are educating themselves; they are making sure that their children are educated; they are finding new ways to solve their problems. I would ask you to walk with us a little further on our journey towards peace.


TO READ the rest of our annual newsletter, please click on the PDF link below and it will open for your inspection-

Attachments:

• 2009_letterFINAL12.01.09.pdf (PDF)
  

Thank you for your support. Your desire to make a difference in this world has made a difference, and we are so thankful that Afghan people have had their lives changed with your help.

We wanted to share with you a very special opportunity to give more than 100% from November 10 through December 1st. Please share this with those you know who care. During this time, we are privileged to receive additional matching funds from your donation through Global Giving of at least 30%. The need is still great. Afghanistan struggles to become a country of strength and stability.

The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) continues to assist women and children earthquake survivors who have moved to Peshawar because they have no housing. AIL has one Women’s Learning Center, Zarghona Ana, which is dedicated solely to the earthquake survivors; 280 females study in a variety of levels of literacy classes and can also study tailoring, English and Arabic. Many of the students are able to support their families because of what they have learned in the schools and centers. An example is Ayesha, who shares the following: “I am in literacy 7th class. When I came to this course ,I was completely illiterate, I had many problems in my own life and my home, and I can’t count my money. But now because of this course, I can solve my all problems- for example, I arrange my life in good way, I can buy necessary things for my home, if my friends & relatives are faced with some problems I can give them good suggestion. Also, I help my children with their lessons, one of them in class 1st and the older in class 3rd.”

In the last few months, many internally displaced persons have flooded into the Peshawar area and are now living in the refugee camps along with IDPs from Swat. We have some funds in reserve and will continue to add to those reserves for the next emergency the Afghan people and IDPs of Swat face. Winter is coming and can be brutal. Your donation will help those who are in extreme crisis and need.

There's a new focus on women worldwide. The New York Times magazine dedicated their entire issue one week in August on women in the developing world. Of particular focus was a newly launched book written by the well-known Pulitzer winning couple Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl DuWunn titled: "Half The Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide". The press focus on this timely book is significant- from reviews in Harvard and People magazine, to upcoming segments on shows like "The Today Show", the time has come for women and their issues worldwide to be in the spotlight.

Sakena Yacoobi and her organization the Afghan Institute of Learning is one of the topics in Chapter Nine of the book. Dr. Yacoobi grew up in Herat, Afghanistan and then came to the United States to study at the University of the Pacific and Loma Linda University. Concerned about the condition of her people back in Afghanistan, Sakena returned to Pakistan to work in Afghan refugee camps and later went to Afghanistan. Although the Taliban forbade girls from getting an education in Afghanistan, Sakena was instrumental in establishing a string of secret girls schools with community support.

Today, the Afghan Institute of Learning has multiple education programs in Pakistan and in seven provinces of Afghanistan. There are educational learning centers for women and children, preschool programs, post-secondary institutes, a university, and teacher training programs. In addition, AIL has an in-depth program of health education and treatment for women and small children. Since its start in 1995, AIL has trained nearly 16,000 teachers and over 3.5 million women and children have received a quality education. With the health programs included, AIL has directly impacted over 6.7 million Afghans.

Sakena has been and continues to be recognized for her work. Her philosophy is to develop a program from the grass-roots level so the community members are an integral part of the process. State Kristof and DuWunn in their book Half The Sky- "American organizations would have accomplished much more if they had financed and supported Sakena, rather than dispatching their own representatives to Kabul...The best role for Americans who want to help Muslim women isn't holding the microphone at the front of the rally, but writing the checks and carrying the bags in the back."

Dr. Yacoobi and the work of the Afghan Institute of Learning have been supported by multiple grantors and organizations over the years. "I wish to thank everyone who has helped in this important work," states Sakena. "I want to share with each and every contributor the joy of seeing a young woman, who has a renewed interest in life because she can now read, or the happiness of a widow who has learned a skill that will allow her to support her children.

"We now have children who are healthy because of inoculations, and women who did not die during childbirth who have happy, healthy babies. My wish is that these small steps that allow awareness and growth in families will lead to the growth of our country."



Recently, we spoke with Sakena, and she has this message to all the supporters of AIL:


"It is an honor to be included in Nicholas' and Sheryl's book Half The Sky. So many foundations and individuals have contributed to the work that the Afghan Institute of Learning has been able to do in Afghanistan.

"From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all who have understood the plight of Afghan women and children, and have reached out with compassionate, caring support.

"May God reward your generosity......."

Sakena

The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) continues to assist women and children earthquake survivors who have moved to Peshawar because they have no housing. AIL has one Women’s Learning Center, Zarghona Ana, which is dedicated solely to earthquake survivors; 280 females study in a variety of levels of literacy classes and can also study tailoring, English and Arabic There are 46 other earthquake survivors attending the other AIL centers and schools in the Peshawar area. The program continues to thrive and many of the students are able to support their families because of what they have learned in the schools and centers.

In the last few months, many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have flooded into the Peshawar area and are now living in former Afghan refugee camps. The IDP families are receiving some assistance but lack sufficient food. Because of this AIL plans to use the funding that has been given for IDPs to distribute food packages to the most needy families during the next month. Food packages will include flour, rice, beans (dal), oil and sugar.

Dear Globalgiving Donor,

Thank you for donating to our project, Help Earthquake Survivors in Northern Pakistan. We appreciate the support we have received from you in the past, and we will continue to support those displaced by the earthquake in our Educational Learning Centers (as of May 2009 there were 302 people displaced by the earthquake in AIL Education Learning Centers, and 24 students displaced by the earthquake in AIL schools).

We have decided at this time to change the focus of our emergency services project to serve some of the up to 3 million people displaced by fighting in the Swat Valley. We are working to provide food and dishes to internally displaced people in two camps near Peshawar, Pakistan. We are also planning to provide sewing training to the women in these camps.

Once again, thank you for your support in the past. We hope that you can find it in your heart to help us alleviate a small portion of the suffering felt by those displaced by the conflict in Swat Valley.

AIL continues to support people who were displaced during the earthquakes in October 2005. During 2008 AIL taught sewing and literacy skills to 691 in three Women’s Learning Centers (WLC) in Northern Pakistan. One of these learning centers was established specifically for those affected by the earthquake. Many of the women coming to the WLC’s for sewing courses use these skills to help support their families.

During 2008 AIL also served 71 students displaced by the earthquakes in three schools.

In October 2005, a devastating earthquake erupted in Pakistan, killing over 80,000 people and impacting over 4 million more people. The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) staff in Pakistan began responding immediately to aid earthquake survivors by gathering blankets, cushions, and clothes in October 2005 and distributing a shipment of medicine from Direct Relief International in November 2005.

Many of the earthquake survivors have moved to Peshawar, Pakistan and continue to be helped by AIL in Learning Centers. From January to June 2008 there were 6 centers and schools serving a total of 406 survivors.

In April 2007, the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) made a delivery of floor coverings to various communities in the earthquake areas. In Peshawar, displaced earthquake survivors continue to study in AIL schools and Women’s Learning Centers. There were 385 women studying literacy and skills classes in the centers and 146 students in various grades in the schools.

In October 2005, a devastating earthquake erupted in Pakistan, killing over 80,000 people and impacting over 4 million more people. AIL staff in Pakistan began responding immediately to aid earthquake survivors by gathering blankets, cushions, and clothes in October and a shipment of medicine from Direct Relief International in November. AIL has been able to continue its urgently needed earthquake relief efforts and help thousands of people because of the generous support of Global Giving donors.

Attachments:

• Global Giving Earthquake grant report dec 05-mar 06 4-12-06.doc (DOC)

After a trip to the Batt Gram region of Pakistan on December 23, 2005, an AIL manager who was a member of the earthquake relief team submitted this report, which describes the devastation she observed, some of her reflections on the impact of this tragedy, and the relief activities of AIL.

Attachments:

• Earthquake Relief Progress Rep (1-2-06).doc (DOC)

Creating Hope International is partnering with the Afghan Institute of Learning to bring relief to victims of the recent earthquake in Pakistan. Staff of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) in Pakistan is making regular trips from their base office in Peshawar to areas affected by the earthquake. They are delivering blankets, medicine, floor coverings, quilts, pillows, clothes, and other supplies that earthquake survivors urgently need. After a trip to the Balakot region of Pakistan on December 6, 2005, an AIL manager who was a member of the earthquake relief team submitted this report, which describes the devastation she observed, some of her reflections on the impact of this tragedy, and the relief activities of AIL.

Attachments:

• Earthquake Relief Progress Rep (1-1-06).doc (DOC)