Donations to help put roof on girls’ school

Bryan Costanza, chef at Mexicali Joe’s, picks the winning raffle ticket for a carpet from Afghanistan. Holding the pot is Barb Maslyk, owner of Bears Oh My, which sponsored the benefit sale.

Dozens of Big Canoe residents reached out to the women and girls of the Afghan village - buying Afghan goods and raffle tickets at the benefit sale at Bears Oh My, and writing personal notes to the villagers. In the final tally, just under $3,000 in sales and donations came in, with all profits going toward building a roof on the library of the girls’ school in Mohammad Agha.

The project will cost about $8,000, and its completion will mean that women of the village have a place to hold literacy and job training classes as well as the girls.

Benefit organizers Barb Maslyk and I extend a huge “Thank you” on behalf of the women and girls of the village. “We’re absolutely thrilled to make this contribution to the school,” Barb said.

The project lets the villagers know that there are Americans who care about them, and that Americans haven’t forgotten them. This is a school that I’ve been working with since 2003, when I was in the village training Afghan journalists and we covered an attack on the school.

Those beautiful pashmina shawls sold out halfway through the three-day benefit. More will be shipped here from Afghanistan for the Tour of Homes Marketplace, so look for them there – or reserve yours now by contacting me. barakafoundation@gmail.com

The benefit sales continue year-round. Barb will continue to offer the “pebbles” assortment of handmade Afghan soaps, and I will have individual soaps and silk scarves. We hope to raise the $8,000 total in time to put the roof on this summer.

Out of 126 raffle tickets, the lucky winner was none other than Alice Eachus – surely a sign of divine intervention, because she has personally done so much to promote and help this cause! Bryan Costanza, chef at Mexicali Joe’s, drew the winning ticket to avoid any conflicts of interest… since Barb and I know many of those who bought tickets.

The silent auction carpet went to Donna Wills, who was delighted to win it for only $350.

Those who purchased $30 or more, or donated $20 or more, were entitled to choose a postcard on which they wrote a personal message. These cards are being mailed to Afghanistan, where they’ll be translated and given to the girls and women in time for March 8, International Women’s Day, and the first day of school, around March 21.

Ray Bedingfield personally stepped up to the plate to help by committing to take five silk scarves to sell to his friends -- and had five hits. the scarves, he said, "made a lot of people happy, and I enjoyed doing it."

The messages reached across the cultural and physical distance to touch on themes that are common to everyone. These will mean a great deal to the villagers, who depend on personal and family ties to survive.

“May you learn, laugh and love much,” wrote Linda Brashear.

“If we women unite, there will be peace,” penned Tonya Briggs.

“Peace be with you. Love from Carol and Ted,” one couple wrote, echoing (perhaps unknowingly?) the standard Muslim greeting.

And Rosemary Richie summarized, “To our very dear friends, We hold your goals and wishes close to our hearts. They are our own for daughters, sisters and friends.”

Many in attendance were from Ridgerunners and individual book groups who have read books about Afghanistan. The Leafturners wrote, “We are a book club that loves reading and learning and we hope with the money that is raised, you will have a safe place to read and study and work toward fulfilling your dreams. We will keep you in our prayers and will be waiting to hear that your building is complete one day. God bless you.”

If you want to hear more about Afghanistan or the girls school, watch for announcements of coming talks on the news section of BarakaPhotos.com http://barakaphotos.com/#/page/news-shows-awards/?bw=1000&bh=590

To view recent photos of the positive developments and beauty of Afghanistan, see the special gallery by Afghan photographers.
http://barakaphotos.com/#/gallery/pajhwok-afghan-news%20?bw=1000&bh=590