This picture, below, is by Shoghula. She heard this story of a nine-year-old girl who was abducted, raped, then exchanged for a fighting dog in Kunduz. Obviously this terrible and frightening story made a big impression on Shoghula, who saw it on the news, which is why she has drawn this image. Thanks Shoghula.
This picture, below, and accompanying text is by Saweeda. Saweeda wishes to see her country become a good place, which is why she drew this anti-heroin poster. Thanks Saweeda.
This picture is from a young man, Asad. The picture shows how Afghan refugees are so poor and how, as they are going about their daily routines, they see Pakistani children going to schools and they feel so disappointed about their own lives. Thanks Asad.
This, below, is by Ayesha. Ayesha says she heard this story from her father and decided she wanted to write it down. In the future she wants to write more stories. Thanks Ayesha!
...I have heard today that a friend is arranging a Quiz Night in aid of Trust Sulha at the end of April. Wow - thanks Emma! Also that our annual fundraiser Dance For Peace will take place on October 2nd at the Playhouse Theatre, Whitstable. It will be the third time we've put this show on with some fabulous local dance schools who kindly give their time. It's always an exciting and emotional night. Pictures from last year's show will be uploaded soon, so keep coming back...
After quite a bit of research, some phone calls and meetings, I am sorry to report that I feel it is unlikely that Trust Sulha will be able to apply to be registered by the Charity Commission - yet! The reason for this, is that you have to have an annual income of £5,000 to apply. Of course if anyone reading this has had a different experience and has applied successfully without reaching this threshold then I would love to hear from you via info@trustsulha.org.uk I thought we just had to cross that £5,000 threshold once, hence my optimism! Sadly not. Looking on the bright side though, this gives us a new goal - we have to get up to this amount. we have to raise £5,000 a year! And we all like goals don't we! So I'm contacting our friends and supporters today to see if we can create a committee that can start looking into new avenues of funding. One avenue which I feel is worth exploring would be that of getting UK schools involved and raising funds for specific classes - a sort of twinning between students here and students there. I'm always shied away from this as I felt schools wouldn't want to get involved if we weren't a registered charity, but I'm throwing caution to the wind now. The worst that can happen is that they all say no - and then we'll only be in the same position as we are now, and no worse off... After all, Jamilla and Rahema didn't know if it would work when they opened their schools, they just went for it. So in that spirit we shall do the same. So! Onwards and upwards and if you know of a school that you think might like to get involved then please do contact us. Also, please do contact us if you think you can undertake a monthly Standing Order to Trust Sulha. Just £2 per month would, over the course of a year, pay a teacher's salary for a month.
Trust Sulha wishes all our students, teachers, their family and friends a good year - full of health, happiness, peace, joy and education. Here in the UK, I have some New Year's resolutions for Trust Sulha...
1. To apply for full Charity Commission status and hopefully be successful 2. To fully utilise our Charity Commission status to raise more money and educate more young Afghan refugees in Pakistan 3. To produce our annual show Dance For Peace for the third year 4. To continue to publish the views and stories of our students here on our blog 5. To create partnerships between our students in Pakistan and students here in the UK - to increase understanding between these two groups of young people 6. To continue to use this blog and Twitter and other media to further understanding of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and what the future may hold
Keep checking back here to see how we are getting on with these resolutions and once agaon - Happy New Year everyone!
Further to the news that due to increased violence in Pakistan, the Marnie Smith Middle School closed for a few days, we are very pleased to report that the schools are open once again. Rahema Sherzhad, the headmistress of the Marnie Smith Middle School and Jamilla Abassy, the headmistress of the Bakhtar Middle School have reassured Trust Sulha that everything is fine and that they are safe and well supported by the communities around them.
It was always the intention of the Trust Sulha founder, Marnie Summerfield Smith, that this new blog could become a place where the Afghan refugee students could speak to the world. So we are delighted that Silsila Abassy, (Jamilla's daughter), has been to Bakhtar Middle School to interview two students whose stories appear below. Thanks Silsila for all your hard work - much appreciated.
"My Name is Neak Mohammad and I am a student at the BakhterMiddle School.
Three years ago my father died of cancer. He had been ill for one year.
I have three sisters. One is very young, the other comes to school with me and my older sister works with my Mum preparing food and cleaning in people's houses.
Through this work my Mum and sister try to make things better for us. But of course the money isn't always enough so we have to adjust and make the best of things.
Sometimes when my Mum is ill, she cannot go to work. This means my sister cannot go either. On those days we are hungry and we go to sleep hungry.
All of us, especially my youngest sister wait patiently for my Mum to be well again, so that she can go to work and we can get something to eat. Sometimes our hopes come true and she does get well soon.
But sometimes our hopes do not come true and our Mum is ill for a long time.
I hope to complete my studies at the Bakhtar Middle School. But sometimes, when I see the condition of our house, my hungry sisters and my poorly Mum, I feel compelled to go out to work instead.
But what could I do? I am not strong enough to work very hard.
Our house is very, very far from our school but I have to travel this journey because the schools that are near my house all charge fees, which my family could not afford to pay.
At Bakhtar Middle School our fees are paid for by Trust Sulha. They also pay for the stationery that my sister and I need and also warm uniforms for us to wear.
We are so happy and thankful to Trust Sulha and everyone who helps them. We look forward to more help so that we can continue to study like other children do.
Thanks a lot Trust Sulha."
"My name is Sami Ullah. I am ten years old.
I am a student at the Bakhtar Middle School.
My Mum and Dad died in an accident on a very dark night. I was left alone with my four-year-old brother and my sisters who are 14 and 16.
It was too terrible to tolerate the dead bodies of our Mum and Dad because we knew that they were our guards, our life, our hopes, our parents, our relatives, our world and our everything.
Now we feel as if we have no arms or legs and we feel so alone.
We have lost our world, our hopes and all our happiness.
Since the accident I have not seen a smile on the faces of my brothers or sisters.
We just celebrated Eid here and although everyone was celebrating with their families, we had no-one. After 15 days, it was the biggest celebration of Eid and we didn't know what to do.
Every Eid my Dad would bring us new clothes and shoes. Now my little brother asks me where my Dad is and I have to tell him that Dad has died. Then he asks me where Mum is and I have to tell him that same answer.
Eid brings happiness for everyone but sadness for us.
When I think about losing my Mum and Dad, I feel that I want to leave my studies. Sometimes I even think that I want to leave this world.
But then I think about my sisters and my little brother and I am so confused about what we should all do.
I see other people with their Mums and Dads and I feel so alone.
One year ago I had a Mum and Dad but I lost them.
I don't know what I want to do but I know that I want to study. When I go to school I am a little bit happy, but when I go home and see the sad faces of my brother and sisters, I am unhappy again.
I want to study so much. In the future I would like to be a great personality and open a free school for orphans and help them as much as Trust Sulha helps us.
I want to be helpful to orphans.
Thank you Trust Sulha and Marnie and everyone who helps Trust Sulha."
Pakistan shut all schools, universities and student hostels indefinitely this week as the country braced itself for further attacks on soft targets after Tuesday’s suicide bombing at a university campus in Islamabad. Read the full story in The Times here.
This has affected the Marnie Smith Middle School run by Rahema Sherzhad. But in an email to trust founder Marnie Summerfield Smith, Rahema said she hoped school would open again on October 26th.
Trust Sulha sends it best wishes to all students in this testing time.
Excellent news! Dance For Peace 2009 raised £1218.76 - every penny of which will help to educate almost 2,000 Afghan refugee children in Quetta, Pakistan. This money will make an enormous difference to the lives of these hard-working and committed children, their supportive, kind families and wonderful, dedicated teachers. Thanks again to everyone who was involved, from the dancers to theatre volunteers and everyone who came to watch on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. See you all next year!
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