Comments for Education and Challenges in Afghanistan at http://www.michaelyon-online.com , comment 1 to 8 out of 8 comments http://www.michaelyon-online.com Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:45:08 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-17256 I third the recommendation for "Three Cups of Tea." Both Greg Mortensen and the nonprofit I work for share the same mission about educating children, especially girls, in Afghanistan and throughout South/Central Asia. Mortensen's org is @ http://ikat.org and I work for Barakat, Inc. @ http://www.barakatworld.org - Caitlin Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:04:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16906 There are a couple of lost generations in Afghanistan and the greatest priority must be to educate Afghans. There is no cohort of trained Afghans ready to take the place of the generation educated before the invasion and civil war. Most Afghans with any technical or scientific training were taught in Russian, which has remained the primary language for sharing technical information. Our colleagues are trying to master English, but it is difficult for middle aged people. - Lukas Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:49:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16898 A woman in my community originally from Afghanistan founded this organization which has built a medical clinic and primary school in the Beshood District. They also support literacy, health and vocational classes for women and sponsor emergency distribution of wheat flour. More information is available at: http://www.awakeninc.org - William Hughes Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:30:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16894 I second the recommendation for Greg Mortensen's book. My daughter's school raised $9000 last year (in pennies!) and he came to speak about his book and his travels through Pakistan. A great guy on top of his accomplishments. - Gordon Stewart Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:50:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16891 Ah, Islam: the religion of peace. - Denny, Alaska Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:07:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16889 Please, if you have not already, read 3 Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen. First, cool story about climing K2, followed by an inspired story of a man who sees the need for education among the tribal villages to break the centuries old cycle of war. By delivering on some basic security and infrastructure we may win over some of the people of Afghanistan, but unless we educate the women in the tribal villages of the mountains we should not expect a lasting peace or the end of the Taliban style rule. - amcvay Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:09:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16888 Very interesting point you made about teaching kids either French or English, Michael. While I really think you are right in regard to the need to teach them a major language, I don't know how willing the Afghanis will be to learn one, especially if it isn't spoken at home, or won't be spoken at home until several generations from now. If it can be used as any model, the US tried to teach Puerto Rico English in it's schools, and has been doing so for 100 years, and we've had mixed results. While education is essential, everyone knows there is no short term fix for it, even if you build hundreds of excellent schools in a nation, it still takes time. While this is something we can be optimistic about, there are still important issues that need immediate solutions. There was an interesting book I saw at Border's Books called The Bookseller of Kabul. I would have bought it, but at the time I didn't have the cash for it on me....now I'm thinking of going back there to get it, just because of this little entry on your site. - Matthew Gonzalez Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:48:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/education-and-challenges-in-afghanistan.htm#comment-16887 I'm interested in learning how fundraising to provide the surgery this girl needs could get to her. Courage to come back in the face of those injuries needs to be encouraged. So, if anybody knows anybody in country who could figure out what needs to happen to make this work, and how they can be reached, please let me know. I'm going to do what I can do to get some wheels turning to gather the resources to make that possible. You can use shamsia@blainn.com to reach me about this. - Blain Nelson Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:27:00 +0100