Letters From Literacy.

Not to be outdone by the war, Afghan Child Project, too, has surged this year.

In Bamyan Province, we now support six woman's literacy/English clinics.  For each, we hired a local teacher, gave her a laptop computer, and provide the texts, whiteboards, notebooks, pens—everything but willing learners.  And for those, each village has marvelously risen to the occasion.  These dozens of rural women and girls have astounded us with their intelligence and desire to learn. 

We recently received a packet of letters from the girls, and some of their comments were surprising.  “It is very good that we can be like other women around the world.  Thanks American people,”  wrote one girl.  From another, “now we can watch TV understanding very well.  Please help us from the dark.  Thanks American women.”  And one thanked us that the girls “can have education like other women around the world [so] we can help our country and our people.”

Of course we had considered the job prospects and self-esteem girls could get from learning English,   but “coming out of darkness?”  However, when Afghan girls see how women elsewhere live and are treated, it probably is like coming out of the “dark.”  And these are the lucky ones who are allowed to go to school, learn English and even watch foreign television.  They have already witnessed the magnificence of our weaponry and the stunning wealth of our military and its inexplicable hold over US decision making.  Now we can only hope that these girls will learn more readily about the more peacenik aspects of the United States.

And while they glimpse the outside world, it is even more amazing to hear these Afghan girls talking about helping their “country and their people.”  Such aspirations beyond the house and kiddos were supposed to be just for men.  Is this the beginning of an Afghan insurgency we could all love?  And what will be next over here: bra-burning, mini-burqas, perhaps someday even, equality? 

Then again, once they start showing reruns of The Jerry Springer Show over here, these chicks may just want to dive for cover back under the nearest burqa.

Click here to view some of the letters we received from the girls.