Bake sale!

success. Through the ten-part curriculum covering everything from education, economics, family life, sports/recreation, belief systems, communication, food, art, government, geography and more, the Minnesota 12-year olds have now gained a greater understanding of life in Afghanistan. They are also able to articulate how the high illiteracy rate there links to poverty, how poverty links to vulnerability, how vulnerability links to the instability of a nation…and how unstable nations are prime targets for terrorist groups to infiltrate.

As a student-led solution, the kids organized their own individual and group fundraisers including bake sales, yard work, babysitting, holding carnivals and more. Afterwards they donated the proceeds to purchase much-needed school supplies for their Afghan friends. “They understand how supporting education can help lead to peace,” says Dina Fesler.

“Because of their new-found understanding of the issues that Afghans face, in one week the students raised $1,200, which will help a lot of children in Afghanistan attend school. More importantly, our kids no longer see themselves on the sidelines. They realize that although they are quite young, they still have the power to impact the world.  That’s what our work at CCC is all about.”

Please use this opportunity to help us continue to get the word out and reach the goal. If we can raise $10,000 we can continue to help displaced Afghans get back on their feet and avoid joining insurgent groups to support their families.

We can’t do this without you!

If you haven’t done so yet, please watch the four short video reports at www.warkidsrelief.org/bridges/follow TODAY and $4 will be donated on your behalf. If you have watched them already, please help us spread the word by forwarding the link on.

Hopefully we will raise enough funds to bring a lot more opportunity to these vulnerable Afghans vey soon.

Not only is it an incredible story, but because we are working with a videographer in Kabul who is filming the entire process, the whole world can watch this groundbreaking adventure unfold via video reports on our website. Currently, there are four reports posted at www.warkidsrelief.org/bridges/follow.

Now…in order to get traction on this project, we need more people to watch the videos. So, starting TODAY, May 17, for exactly one week a very generous donor will give $1 for every video view…up to $10,000, for 10,000 visits!! This is money that we will use to expand our project to include a vocational training program for camp women so that they too can become more empowered and better care for their children.
 
Today I am asking for you to use whatever networks you have: Facebook, Twitter, blogs, church groups, youth groups, professional groups, classrooms, book clubs, whatever, to make a personal plea for people to watch any/all of these videos. (I even know some teachers who are having their students watch these videos as homework assignments because of this amazing teaching opportunity involving a very current world issue.)
 
The challenge is only from today Monday, May 17 until Sunday, May 23 so we need to get the word out right away! If you have any questions, please contact me and I will help in any way I can.

This is the link to the four videos that people need to watch that will raise the money: www.warkidsrelief.org/bridges/follow 

Thank you so much for helping spread the word. Together we can do this!!!!
 
Dina

Flier

This Saturday, April 17, Dina Fesler will be presenting WKR’s latest initiatives in Afghanistan in conjunction with ”Afghanistan: The Next Phase- 2010 Military Symposium” put on by the World Affairs Council. The symposium and her lecture will be held at the Dallas InterContinental hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Dina’s discussion, held at noon in the Cosmopolitan Room at the InterContinental Hotel, will include both the U.S./Afghan Junior Investor Program, as well as the newest Briquettes Into Bridges project, as examples of civilian-led efforts to bring stabilization to Afghanistan.

This presentation is open to the public. For further details please contact Dina@warkidsrelief.org

“Afghanistan: The Next Phase” 2010 Military Symposium - April 17

“Afghanistan: The Next Phase” 2010 Military Symposium Featuring General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army    Please join the Association of the United States Army – North Texas Chapter for the 2010 Military Symposium focusing on “Afghanistan: The Next Phase” with keynote speaker General George W. Casey, Jr., chief of staff of the United States Army. The 2010 Symposium will continue the tradition of addressing relevant military subjects of keen interest to the Dallas/Fort Worth community and will be presented with the World Affairs Council, the Tower Center at SMU and the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations. The Symposium strives to bring in key military, political and academic speakers to delve into a subject currently in the news and on the minds of many Americans. As in the past, the audience will be comprised of local defense industry, senior community business leaders, academic representatives and active duty/retired service members. Dallas InterContinental Hotel 15201 Dallas Parkway Addison, TX 75001 Tickets:   The symposium is free and open to the general public. Reservations are required by Thursday, April 15, 2010.

AFter nearly three months, we have finally pulled everything together, including getting the full support of the Afghan Ministry of Returnees & Repatriation and the camp elders, as well as coordinating the briquette training operation and selecting the participants. Additional challenges included being held up by weeks of constant rain in Kabul (which, at the IDP camp translates to slippery, cold, messy, miserable mud) as well as Kabul’s frequent electricity outages, which made uploading a 10-minute video a week-long exercise in patience.
 
Nobody ever said launching projects in Third World war zones was easy, I guess.
 
But things are finally ready, and not only is this project already generating media interest, but the project and I have been introduced to Mark Jacobson (the senior advisor to General Stan McChrystal, the head of the military effort in Afghanistan) who will be following along, and I will be presenting the project in conjunction with a symposium in Dallas in a few weeks called “Afghanistan: The Next Phase- 2010 Military Symposium, featuring General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

I’m excited for you all to join in as we embark on this unprecedented adventure, so please take a moment to check out our new webpages…and get ready for the fun to begin!

Dina

Sarah Tiano; Peace by Piece founder

Seventeen year old Sarah Tiano is leading the charge on an creative and impactful project that helps Northfield teens learn more about the plight of their peers in war zones, as well as get involved to help make a difference for them.

Sarah has designed handmade “peace bracelets” that she is selling in local shops to raise money for a new WKR project that will help an Afghan IDP (internally displaced person) in Kabul be able to start a small, income generating business in order to help provide for his family.

To produce the 500 bracelets needed, Sarah is hosting bracelet-making parties where area youth can come and have fun together while helping support the cause. At each party, Sarah provides snacks, as well as an informative presentation on the plight of war kids and how making a little $5 bracelet can actually make a big difference.

Busy teens making bracelets

Sarah is also making presentations to area churches and youth groups in an effort to garner more support for the cause.

For information on future bracelet-making parties or presentations contact Sarah at sarah.tiano @ gmail.com.

Sixth grade class holding "We love you Karima!" sign

Sixth grade students participating in the U.S./Afghan Junior Investor Program are enjoying their weekly lessons on Afghan life and culture…especially last week’s class where they got packets of spices and recipes for kebabs.

But Karima, the 14-year old Afghan girl making exclusive video reports for the program, continues to capture hearts all across the school as she shares her stories on life in Kabul.

For the latest episode go to:

http://www.vimeo.com/10305233
password: tanhashudam

The fifty Iraqi students live in Suleimanya, in northern Iraq, and are served by Bustan Media group for children; the CCC/War Kids Relief partner charity that participated in the Young Ambassador 2009 pilot program.

The Northfield students are anxiously awaiting their first round of responses as communication ramps up in the 13-week program.

The highlight of the session, however, was when the students watched the first video featuring Karima. Karima is a 14-year old girl living in Kabul who Dina met during her trip there in December. Karima expressed her dream of becoming a TV reporter when she grows up, so Dina hired her to make video lessons for the pilot project. Each week she will introduce the American kids to a new and interesting aspect of Afghan culture.

“Every kids eyes were glued to the screen as they heard Karima tell her story,” said Dina. “They really related to her as a peer, a friend…which was our goal. After it was over, they all commented on how easy their lives are as Americans, how strong and brave Karima is, and how often they take their education for granted.”

We’re off to a great start!

To watch Karima’s first video please go to:

http://www.vimeo.com/8646811

password: maktab