By Afghanistan Relief Team (Originally in Dari)
Afghanistan is a beautiful country. However, unfortunately, numerous children have lost their parents during unpeaceful times or as the result of a natural disaster. Every day, many of these innocent street children start their mornings visiting the garbage bins in search of food to eat, and materials and plastics for keeping warm. Many of them go to school while making a living by polishing shoes on the streets.
Upon learning of the heartbreaking condition of the street children in Afghanistan, Supreme Master Ching Hai provided a US$12,000 fund to assist our Afghan Association members to provide basic needs for the youngsters. Therefore, on June 1, 2016, our local Association members distributed various supplies to 88 children under the age of 12 in Badakhshan, Ghor, and Herat Provinces. Items given included school bags, stationery, coats and shoe polishing tools such as wax, brushes, disposable gloves and other needed materials.
In Herat Province, well-known and respected individuals, including heads of governmental departments, university professors and influential figures, were present during the distribution. We also conveyed to them Supreme Master Ching Hai’s message of peace and respect for all living beings and showed them video clips on the benefits of adopting the vegan diet and an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gholmi from Herat, the capital of Herat Province, on behalf of the street children, wrote a sincere thank-you letter to Master, stating, “We, the street children in Herat, feel your kindness from the depth of our hearts and believe that distance does not matter when it comes to feeling the pain of hopeless children. You helped us with your warm hands and your kind heart and we promise when we grow, we will get educated, and once all these hardships are over, we will do the same for any child who needs help based on humanity only, regardless of religion, color of skin and gender. Thank you!”
Expenditures By Supreme Master Ching Hai For Helping Street Children in Afghanistan
Description | Amount (AFN) | Receipt |
---|---|---|
School bags, stationery, new Afghan cloths, coats, shoe polishing tools including wax, brushes, disposal gloves and other needed materials | 825,360 | A |
Total | AFN 825,360 (US$12,000) |