Dan Browne, International Director writes:
Against the back drop of increasing threats, violence and people having to leave the country we have seen the volume of our work grow and the numbers on our staff increase. Steve and Natasha Palubinski (USA) joined us at a crucial time to help with the building of a hospital clinic, 2 wells and a water tower in addition to a $55,000 quilt making project helping the most vulnerable people in the villages of Dawlatabad District.
Gildeon and Lidia (Brazil) joined us and after various health problems have returned to their home country for 6 months. They are doing well. We look forward to welcoming new staff members Chris and Megan LeMaster (USA) and Sarah Turner (UK) in September.
Elections take place in Afghanistan during August and it is uncertain what they will bring; we eagerly await the results and ask that you think of us, as many foreigners will be out of the country during that time for security reasons.
We hope to see 4 classrooms and a surrounding wall for a girl’s school built over the next year and many other projects are ongoing. Once again thank you so much for your continued support.
Best Wishes
Dan
Water Supply Improvement Project
ASET has begun to mobilise the Water Supply Improvement Project from the Dawlatabad office. The project entails hygiene promotion in homes and schools, working with the community to prepare water supply safety plans, and the construction of two water wells. Preliminary surveying has been completed and tentative neighbourhoods have been identified as potential beneficiaries based on need. Funding has been provided by TearFund UK through SERVE Afghanistan, their partner organisation, and the project will run through to April 2010.
Dalan Clinic
The official opening of the Dalan Basic Health Centre was held on May 27. There were nearly 50 attendees including the Sholgar District Governor, the Ministry of Public Health, the donor representative from the German government, several local political figures, and the leaders of the local community who ASET has been working closely with during the project. ASET has been well received by the MoPH and the community because of the quality of work maintained on the project and involvement of the community. Dalan is an ethnic Hazarara village that relies on rain-fed crops for income. The extensive drought of the past decade has crippled the local economy and resulted in many hardships. This year the rains returned and the new clinic was completed – a time for celebrating.
Kindergarten news
The kindergarten is now in its second year and it is exciting to see it all coming together. News has spread about how well the children have done in their first grade, and members of more fortunate families are asking why their children cannot attend the school just because they are not poor enough!
Julie, an occupational therapist, has become involved in weekly training sessions for the teachers, with the aim of developing their skills to help those children with disabilities. One goal for the coming year is to open a special needs class.
Mount Eiger Challenge
Earlier this year a team of 25 took part in a sponsored climb at a London climbing centre. The challenge was to climb the equivalent of Mount Eiger (3970 metres), but an amazing 6512 metres was climbed in total and over £5000 raised for ASET. Thank you to everyone that took part and to all who kindly sponsored them.
ASET Dinner & Auction
The ASET dinner and auction took place on March 14th 2009, with over 100 people enjoying a great evening and an amazing £10,000 being raised. ASET would like to thank all those involved in organising the event. We would also like to thank all those who came along, those that donated auction lots and all those who gave so generously.