blog.schoolisopen.org

In a rather frustrated mood trying to convince deputy ministers of Planning, Policy, Budget, Buildings and other “heady” departments, I decided a new project - educate these men about the great benefits of early childhood development classes. Some might call it Kindergarten, Pre School, block building or child’s play, I call it a VITAL step in education. Anyone who knows me, knows that those are the years I advocate hard for.

At this meeting, the ministry didn’t like that the budget for ECD was more than for formal “school age” classes. ECD isn’t just a new idea in the deep south of AFG - Uruzgan where I am now managing 12 education programs, but even in the Ministry of Education, the blue suited dads who have sat behinds desks while their own children learned how to share, take turns, cut smoothly, play fairly, sort, stack, craft their ideas in crayon and marker, and found awe in the small beetle crossing their path.

“School isn’t for playing” - I heard that come from these blue suits.  My very contained response, “Playing is the school work of young children.”  Not received with open arms, so my next meeting with this group of very powerful, very senior men, is to bring a few activities that promote cognitive and physical development. I offered to provide a training about child development.

My ultimate challenge is to get these guys to move one or two steps towards - child friendly, hands on classrooms are what children need.  Kindergarten rules - we all know that. As yourself, where did I learn to take turns, hold hands while crossing the street, have milk and cookies everyday after nap time, and to be curious.

While down south, the traveling crew used this quote when the going was gone, but we had a wonderful trip. Lots of meetings (too many for my attention span) and an amazing training in Early Childhood Development and Health Education.

Not a moment not working but the hours my eyes were closed and I was snoring.  Clean air, beautiful gardens, appreciative people. Living the dream

Photos coming

Life is just plugging along.  Work is keeping me busy with education activities.

SIO - we are in the final phases of procuring the 12 computers donated to a school.  It’s easy to find computers but not easy to get the quality we want for the students.

We are in the last month of a three month training we have been doing for the Kabul Municipalities.  The Future Leaders Program, has been work with 50 mid level managers to build capacity of what their job running the municipalities entails.

We are still supporting a clinic with Wardak with a doctor, midwife, ambulance, driver, and medication. That has become a long term project, which feels hopeful in a different sort of way. The people in Wardak are under complete control of the Taliban, so they are happy to have support that the government can’t offer right now.

I will head to “Big Turban Country” soon for a week or so. Always nice to get to clean air and to people who appreciate a life without hours of traffic each day.

Life is back to the daily grind of living, working, cooking, trying here in Kabul. The weather is most wonderful. Perfect temperatures for doing all things life here.

Fruit trees are preparing for a productive summer harvest.  Everyday we check the trees for the evidence of such harvest.

After a very hairy 18 hours, Kabul gets back to carrying out its business, ever ready for the next spring sale. Wracked nerves, timid newcomers, and worried kids try to get back on track.

The Earth is warming up and the trees are waking up.

The rosebushes grow about an inch a day.

Everyone is enjoying the sun, the blooms, and the days.

Children are in school, so the commute across town is a bit longer as we dodge the backpacks and packs of pals.