Since 1983 Afghanaid has worked with rural Afghan men, women and children helping them to obtain the skills and tools they need to help themselves. We are a registered charity in England, Wales (1045348) and Scotland (SC044614). News Update Issue 26

AFGHANISTAN’S WATER SHORTAGE Less than half the population in Afghanistan have access to clean water. The majority of women and children in rural Afghanistan walk more than three miles, sometimes twice a day, to collect water for their families. As a result they can’t go to work or school. One in five Afghan children die every year from diseases caused by dirty water. Lack of hygiene education and clean water mean that people become ill with diarrhoea, cholera or typhoid and often die. It seems unthinkable, but this is the reality for the majority of the Afghan population. The cost of treating these illnesses can be overwhelming, especially for those who are already scratching out a living.

‘In Afghanistan, the lack of access to safe water and sanitation services are key factors intensifying and spreading poverty. Giving communities sustainable access to clean water, basic sanitation, and improved knowledge of hygiene, will reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases and child mortality. It will also increase the amount of time women can spend on productive activities and as a result increase income. Improved health will reduce the cost of medical care and increase the savings which can provide a safety net.’ Richard Slack Head of Communications, British Embassy, Kabul.

AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

FROM THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR CHARLES DAVY Last year was one of transition and change for Afghanistan, but 2015 looks set to become the year that will shape the future of the country. Basic needs for the most vulnerable must be met for Afghans to be able to rebuild their country. I see Afghanaid’s work as a pyramid with food, water and shelter laying the foundation upon which better lives and communities can be built. Therefore a key area of our work this year will be continuing to help the most vulnerable people access clean water. Having clean water goes far beyond meeting essential needs: it has far reaching consequences on an individual’s mental and physical growth. People who have fled their homes due to conflict or natural disaster, women and children, the elderly and disabled – these are the people we seek to help.

Charles Davy Managing Director

MARIA’S STORY Imagine using the same water as the local wildlife to drink, bathe and wash your food. For many in Afghanistan this is the status quo. Maria is 45, and lives in Samangan Province where water is scarce. ‘There are 11 people in my family. We are very poor. My husband is too old to work. Only my young son works. Life is not easy. Our house is overcrowded with so many people living in a small space. We do not have a toilet or running water so the land around our house gets dirty very quickly. Water is scarce and we use the water from a lake up the hill. Everyone in the village uses it to wash, eat, drink, and even let their animals drink from it. It is all we have. Everyone in my family is constantly sick. It is really difficult because when we get ill we need to spend the little money we have on medication. Recently my son couldn’t work as he was ill with cholera and stayed in bed for a long time. That meant we went hungry for weeks. I am really worried about the future. Sometimes I feel that God’s plans for me were different from anyone else’s. And that makes me sad.’

Afghanaid works with disadvantaged communities to identify their most pressing needs and the most applicable solutions. 2

AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

AFGHANAID’S WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROGRAMME WATER AND WOMEN In Afghanistan, women are traditionally responsible for looking after the home, cooking and cleaning. This is why Afghanaid includes women in training and targets them through its health and hygiene campaigns on local radio and TV. Bibi Hawa is 28 years old and has five children. ‘I studied until second grade but could not continue with my education so my literacy is poor. My husband is a labourer and we were struggling with our daily expenses.’ Bibi was selected to participate in an Afghanaid water project and elected

to the village water committee while a local group was formed to maintain and monitor the project. ‘When the water project was introduced in our village, I learnt about hygiene, sanitation and how to treat water. For the last year my children haven’t been ill and now I understand that when they were it was due to dirty water and not washing. As a result of the training I always give safe water to my children.’ Afghanaid creates education materials that are accessible to all, even those who are illiterate. Bibi’s story shows us the importance of clean water and the impact it can have on families. Please help us achieve the same for hundreds of other women like Bibi.

£12 could provide a lifesaving water filter for an entire family. Donate online by visiting www.afghanaid.org.uk/donate or via your UK mobile – text AFGHAN to 70660 to donate £5*. IMPACT THROUGH REGULAR GIVING £20 a month can provide an entire village with a communal latrine, reducing the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera or diarrhoea. If you would like to set up a monthly donation or increase your current monthly gift, please contact Elena on 020 7065 0828 or email [email protected]. * Texts cost £5 + standard network charge. Afghanaid receives £5. Obtain bill payer’s permission. Customer care 0844 847 9800.

AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

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BUILD BACK BETTER APPEAL UPDATE Last year we introduced you to Mahjuba (right) and her family who lost their home and all their possessions to flash floods. But when we last visited Mahjuba in December, she was extremely pleased to inform us that: ‘I am waking up in my own home! My children are warm. My nightmares have passed. Life will get better now that I have a roof over my head and a floor under my feet.’ In fact, there were hundreds of families like hers who lost everything to floods and landslides and were in desperate need of adequate shelter before winter. Thanks to our supporters, Afghanaid raised the funds to rebuild hundreds of homes.

THE WORK WE DO Basic services

Livelihoods

Emergency response

Other areas

Water, sanitation & hygiene

Agriculture & food security

Emergency assistance

Gender

Education

Rural savings & small business

Disaster risk reduction

Community infrastructure

Natural resource management

Community development & local governance

Livestock 4

Staff AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS Afghanistan remains one of the hardest places in the world to be female. Almost 80% of Afghan girls are forced or arranged into marriages with men who are much older, some in their 60s or 70s. Only 40% of Afghan girls attend elementary school, and one in 20 girls are educated beyond the sixth grade. Changing perceptions through education is the best strategy to empower women.

AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

This is why Afghanaid’s human rights programmes involve men and women in all stages of its project design with the aim of empowering and educating women as well as men. ‘Before receiving Afghanaid’s human rights training, I would come home from work and complain to my wife if dinner wasn’t ready; I would get angry and we’d often have arguments. After the training, I realised how hard women work and that their lives are as difficult

as men’s. Now, when I come home and dinner isn’t ready, I help my wife instead of shouting at her. I help her cut vegetables or get the wood ready for cooking. I understand that we have to work together. Afghanaid has improved the relationship between men and women in our village: there is more respect now and no more fighting.’ Molive Serajuddin, (below, right) School Headmaster, Samangan Province.

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SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT sales for Afghanaid in May and October. My employer also had a matching scheme so in all, I raised over £200!

Alison MartinCampbell tells us about her role as a supporter of Afghanaid’s work. What motivated you to get involved with Afghanaid? I saw the terrible stories about the landslide in Badakhshan province, in April of last year. Many of the victims were already living in poverty. The landslide made it a hundred times worse. I was moved to raise some money to help. How did you turn your interest into action? I host a bake sale in my office every week, and I’ve been doing it for nine years. After hearing about the landslide, I hosted weekly cake

What area of Afghanaid’s work do you find most interesting? Afghanaid does not only supply emergency aid, but also helps people to help themselves by enabling them with skills and businesses. The tools to become self-sufficient – like growing better fruit and vegetables are really important. I love Afghanaid’s focus on empowering women and girls and using them as agents of change. What would you say to someone interested in volunteering for Afghanaid? Afghans deserve all the support that we can give them. The media only portrays a very negative side of Afghanistan. But there’s much more than that: the culture, the warmth of the people, the history. I want more people to know this side of it, and I’m happy to be part of that process.

Bilal Jalil Regional Coordinator, Leicester As I am Afghan, volunteering with Afghanaid means that I can help the people back home. I contacted my local newspaper after the floods in Samangan province. They wrote an article about me and Afghanaid. As a result, people donated to Afghanaid and now many more people know about Afghanaid’s work!

Jo Nicholson London Marathon runner I became involved with Afghanaid while

serving with the Navy in Helmand province, advising farmers on crops and agricultural techniques. This year, I’m running the London Marathon for Afghanaid. It’s definitely a challenge! And by supporting Afghanaid I know I’m helping rural Afghans to live better lives.

Tom Warner Regional Coordinator, Buckinghamshire I served with the Army in Afghanistan in 2010. Every day I witnessed first-hand the struggles that Afghans have to go through. Afghanaid is unique as all the work carried out on the ground is by Afghans. Now, I’m excited to be a Regional Coordinator, which means I’ll run events in my local area to raise awareness and money for Afghanaid.

Begum Icelliler Regional Coordinator, London I’ve been a Regional Coordinator since I started volunteering with Afghanaid. I organised a lecture about women and Afghanistan. Next, I plan to organise an Afghan literary event at King’s College London.

To everyone who has fundraised and volunteered for Afghanaid – thank you! And if this has inspired you to get involved, please contact Sarah at shardy@ afghanaid.org.uk or call 020 7065 0825 for more information.

REMEMBER AFGHANAID IN YOUR WILL Building sustainable livelihoods in rural Afghanistan is a long-term investment. Every day, advances are made, giving rural Afghans new tools and skills to help themselves and their families.

Still, we need to know that funds will be available in the years to come. This will allow us to adjust to changing environments, trial new and innovative projects, and ultimately, come what may, help the neediest people in Afghanistan. After taking care of your family and those closest to you, we ask that you consider leaving a legacy in your will to Afghanaid. By doing so, you will be making a long-term investment and a lasting impact on the future of others in Afghanistan. Making a will is not difficult or expensive. To find out more about how to leave a gift in your will, visit: www.afghanaid.org.uk/will or contact us on 020 7065 0825.

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AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING & VOLUNTEERING TIME FOR TEA AND CAKE Host a Green Tea Party and raise money to help end poverty. If you’ve been inspired by Alison’s story (opposite) sign up now and put the kettle on! A Green Tea Party brings your friends together to have fun and raise money to change lives. It’s simple and fun. Anyone can join in at any time. You’ll receive a Host’s Pack with free green tea from our sponsors, Vitalife Health. Sign up today! Email [email protected], call us on 020 7065 0825 or visit www.afghanaid.org.uk/greentea.

To accompany your party, why not try these traditional Afghan Ab-e-Dandan (cardamom) biscuits? Utterly delicious, they melt in your mouth as they’re soft on the outside and a little chewy on the inside.

Ingredients

Method

• 400g plain flour

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°c. Sieve the flour, sugar, baking powder and the cardamom together in a bowl. Warm the oil in a pan and slowly mix in the flour and other ingredients.

• 110g icing sugar • ½ tbsp baking powder • ½ tsbp cardamom • 280ml vegetable oil • 1 tbsp rosewater • 2  tsp pistachio nuts, ground

2. A  dd the rosewater. Work and knead thoroughly. 3. Cover and rest for 30 minutes. 3. F  orm the dough into small, round balls. Make an indent in the centre with your thumb. Place the biscuits on a greased baking sheet and cook for about 10-12 minutes. 4. T  he biscuits should remain pale and the top should crumble. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with ground pistachio and allow to cool.

This delicious recipe is from Helen Saberi’s ‘Noshe Djan: Afghan Food and Cookery’, which is available from www.afghanaid.org.uk/shop.

RUN FOR AFGHANAID Did you know that a child in Afghanistan can walk the equivalent of 41 marathons every year just to collect water? This is the stark reality for many children, but you can make a difference and help stop their endless walk for water. Afghanaid’s London Marathon runners raise £2,000 from family and friends. £2,000 can build a well in a village, so children don’t have to walk for miles through dangerous terrain with heavy cans of water. You can help give children back their childhoods! If you have been inspired, why not join our challenge event team? We have places in the London Marathon 2016, New York Marathon 2015 and many other races. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Secure your place by emailing [email protected], by calling 020 7065 0825 or visiting www.afghanaid.org.uk/ challenge.

AFGHANAID NEWS UPDATE ISSUE 26

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MERCHANDISE HANDMADE SOCKS Cosy socks made by Afghanaid’s beneficiaries. These colourful socks are handmade by women in Badakhshan Province. Working with Afghanaid, the women learnt to knit socks and started their own businesses. Made from Afghan wool, they are brightly coloured and perfect for wearing with boots or lounging around the house. For fifteen years, Rahila (right) has worked as the women’s empowerment advocate in Baharak District, Badakhshan. When Afghanaid set up women’s business training there, Rahila recommended the women who would benefit most from the training.

Rahila says: ‘Afghanaid’s work built on the small-scale business projects like tailoring and food processing in our village. Afghanaid recognised that women need to come together and form business networks. I have been responsible for creating market linkages, which has enabled women, who were previously very poor, to grow their business. With more income in the house, the lives of women are getting better.’ Supplies are limited, so buy a unique pair of socks for £20 (inclusive of P&P). Order via the website: www.afghanaid.org/shop.

OUR THANKS We are extremely grateful to those individuals who give donations as well as those who give the gift of their time to help at events or introduce new people to our work. Through your generosity and that of other donors, we generated over £30,000 for survivors of the Badakhshan landslide and the Samangan floods in April and May 2014. An additional £10,000 was raised in response to our autumn appeal and £32,000 from monthly donations. Events supported by volunteers and Afghanaid ambassadors raised nearly £25,000, while another £15,000 was received in pro-bono services.

Ambassadors and supporters: (from left) Afghan businessman Mirwais Alizai, Rt Hon Rory Stewart MP and artist, Arabella Dorman.

We have also developed new partnerships with a range of trusts and foundations, contributing more than £90,000.

In 2014, our UK-based trust and foundation supporters have enabled us to provide: emergency aid; women’s small business and natural resource management training; women’s literacy programmes; as well as water and sanitation projects.

Afghanaid UK Registered Office Development House 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT Tel: +44 (0) 20 7065 0825

Afghanaid Head Office House 94, Hesa-e-Do, Main Road Karta-e-Parwan, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +93 (0) 799 309 373

While we cannot highlight every donation and extraordinary effort made by donors in this newsletter, we do want you to know we sincerely appreciate your support.

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