Help a Landmine Victim Walk Again

Thank you for your continued support of MLI's humanitarian work in the world's most war-torn and mine-affected countries.  Because of your generosity, we have been able to continue helping hundreds of children who have been injured by landmines.  Approximately every 30 minutes, someone is hurt or killed by a landmine and we are so grateful to have your support as we work to stop these indiscriminate killers.

In April, MLI helped Essamudin, a 10 year-old boy from northern Afghanistan, who stepped on a landmine last year. Essamudin and his father had driven to visit the home of a relative, but when Essamudin hopped out of the passenger side door of their car, he landed on a mine.  In that instant, his life was forever changed.  He lost his right leg and, living in a rural village in Afghanistan, his family could not afford expensive medical care or even good crutches, so Essamudin was left hobbling around with just a stick to support himself.

Around the same time, a school in Essamudin's community began participating in MLI's CHildren Against Mines Program (CHAMPS) and were connected with a school in the U.S.  Through CHAMPS, the youth in both communities began communicating on a monthly basis, via video-messenger, so they could learn more about each other. As part of this program, CHAMPS youth also work together on service-learning projects to help children who have been injured by landmines.  Therefore, the schoolchildren in Afghanistan told their new friends in the U.S. about Essamudin's plight, and the American children began raising money to help him walk again.

After months of hard work, enough money was raised to purchase a new prosthetic leg for Esammudin and provide him with the rehabilitative care that he so desperately needed.  The youth in Afghanistan then worked to ensure that Essamudin was transported to a hospital that could fit him with the new leg.

Last week, thanks to their efforts and all of you who support MLI, Essamudin returned home sporting his new leg and a broad grin.  Thank you for helping to make it possible for us to help children like Essamudin!

Links:

• MLI's April Newsletter
• MLI's Website
• MLI's New Video!