PARSA Discovering the Afghan Spirit

Newsletter July Dear Friends of PARSA, This is our second month is our new location in Maristoon which is a large, large compound in the middle of beautiful farm fields. The wheat was harvested this week and we are picking apricots off the orchard trees in our front yard. Thursday afternoons, the men on our staff play a ferocious game of volleyball with kids from the residences and it is hard for me to go home from work it is so beautiful at work. In a timeworn Afghan way, being accepted by the Afghan Red Crescent Society ARCS staff has not been easy as they wonder whether PARSA has come to take their jobs away. Many of them have worked on the Maristoon through the war. It is hard for them to understand what we have to offer as this staff has worked with disabled, widows and orphans since Mary founded it in 1996 and we are delighted to join forces with the Maristoon staff. We have had a number of relatively comical incidents including a sheep beating broo-ha-ha. I was sitting in my office and I could hear outside shouting, as a crowd gathered. I went to investigate and Gulam Ali, our operations manager rushed up to me in indignantly to report that the farmers that rent ARCS fields to grow crops were beating our two little silly sheep, and threatening to slit their throats. I had to wonder at his theatrics as he was acting like this was

an unconscionable act of cruelty and as if he had never eaten a sheep kabob in his life. To my embarrassment, all parties except me, ended up in Fatima Gailanis office. A dear friend of mine, and president of ARCS she is typically handling major emergencies and catastrophic events, life threatening scenarios of which there are plenty all over Afghanistan and I really did not want her to have to handle this issue. However, magic words were exchanged and now we seem to all be living together without walls separating us and slowly coming to mutual respect as we work to create a community for the destitute and troubled people here. Our two silly sheep are part of our activities program for the women living in the asylum for mentally ill. My husband, Norm, has started a therapy program for them with our staff (described later) and one of the inmates endlessly cuts grass for her invisible sheep. We will be tethering them outside this week to see if she can make a connection, and as part of our rehabilitation program to give them small responsibilities and activities to fill their days. One of my biggest puzzles is how to connect with all of our friends and families through the barrage of media that makes up so much of the Wests impression of Afghanistan. The media although accurate about events here, in my opinion is not accurate about Afghanistan. And the press coverage mostly seems to serve by keeping people at a distance, under the impression that somehow Afghanistan has become a lost cause. My son, Colin, was here for a month and many of you read his journal. He was so surprised to discover how different the problems here are from what his impression was from what he learned in the US. I simply do not know how to penetrate this veil and it becomes discouraging as people in my life literally assume I am too busy, and in some kind of chronic security crisis to correspond. And in fact the correspondence is such a life line for us hereAnoosha interviewed the orphans this week and this is what they said: Last week I took the letters to the orphans from their pen pals. I told them about posting my letter at the web journal. They asked me that they want to write something too; so I told them that this week I would be posting their letters instead of my letter at the web journal. Below are some lines that these orphans wished to share them with everyone. Hi, we are Faqria and Samargul, We wish to see America one day. Hi, my name is Neela,

I wish every body to be always happy and to hear from everybody. Hello, my name is Fahima. I would love to have a letter from anybody. Hi, I am Gulmeena. I really thank my pen pal for writing to me. I always wish to communicate with others. In my opinion if we cannot fulfill wishes of these orphans, at least we should try to reflect their wishes. Anoosha Wahidi July 2007 So, PARSA friendsplease know from all of us that we so appreciate your support and please do not forget us! Or think your contribution is too small! Best wishes from all of us Marnie

About PARS A and the Afghan R ed Crescent Society Mari stoon

Established in 1929, by King Nadir Shah Maristoon is an Afghan term, which means a place to provide assistance for the destitute, homeless and needy people in the Afghan society. It is a program of Red Crescent Society that provides shelter, food, and health care for the destitute, disabled, and mentally challenged people. Three decades of war seriously compromised ARCSs ability to provide resources and sustain a program for the residents of Maristoon that resulted in reintegration of the residents into their communities. PARSA now resides at the Kabul Maristoon thanks to a grant by the New Hudson Foundation. This year PARSA is initiating an exciting new training program in partnership with the Maristoon staff, to develop a program of services for Maristoon residents that will increase the quality of their lives and result in employment for those residents able to make the accommodations to succeed as a wage earner. PARSA and ARCS staff will implement this new program. All principle components will be staffed by a member of each agency as Maristoon directors develop a model Maristoon to be a demonstration to other Maristoons around the country. Features of the program will include: Social workers and case managers who will work with each

resident to create a plan for the future that will include disability accommodations and rehabilitation, medical care, on the job skills development and psychosocial training. Staff will support each resident for at least 6 months after they leave the Maristoon. An opportunity to work for wages while living at Maristoon. 75% of earnings will go into a bank to be cashed in after leaving Maristoon and reintegrating into the community. A rehabilitation program for the 40 residents who live in the asylums for the mentally ill. This program will include medical therapy, activities, and possible reintegration for some of the patients residing in Maristoon. For those who are permanent residents the goal is to enhance the quality of their life, and to work with them so they can be included in the Maristoon community in a useful capacity. Early childhood development program and a vulnerable children program to augment the education program now available to the orphans who are living with their widowed mothers at Maristoon. This will provide the best possible start for these children who have been born into such difficult circumstances.

When this program has been implemented ARCS staff and PARSA will work with Maristoon staff from the other four maristoons to train them in this program model and support them through the implementation of this program in Heart, Mazaar-i-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad.

Donations can be made to PARSA through Pay pal on our website at: www.afghanistan-parsa.org or by sending a check to PARSA 3246 39th Avenue SW Seattle, WA 98116 All contributions are appreciated and all are tax deductible.

Marnie Gustavson June 2007 PARSA moved into our newly renovated building about four weeks ago, and my staff greeted the residents as if they were old friends. In fact, when Mary MacMakin, the founder of PARSA, started her work in Kabul PARSA worked at Maristoon also. Yasin, our national director, is a physiotherapist and he found some of his old patients still residing at Maristoon. There hasnt been much of a turnover here in this, last place of safety for the disabled in Kabul. I stood at the door of one of the many buildings that make up the Maristoon and realized it was a house that makes few Afghans want to come into Maristoon. It has many names but the most common is the crazy womens house. Fatima Gailani, president of ARCS, told me that one of the reasons that she took the job of being president of this agency was to somehow make a difference for these women. During the wars, soldiers would come to this house and commit unimaginable violations. Fatima told me that she has been able to keep them safe but no more. For four weeks I worked with my husband, a clinical psychologist, and director of American Friends Service Committee, my staff and the ARCS doctors and medical staff to assess the women inside and come up with medical therapy that could do more than merely sedate them. For years the illiterate attendants had been giving them a sedating anticonvulsent simply to control their behavior. As a result of our new plans these medications had been taken away so that they could be started on medication more likely to help them. PARSA staff member, Salia had been chosen by our
The front yard of the asylum for women

A Story abo ut working at Maristo on

ARCS/PARSA team to dispense medications for the next month while the medical team titrated the medication so that it worked for the patients. Salia and I faced a thin, angry female attendant; arms crossed who was refusing us entry. She was throwing time honored Afghan curses on our heads, and telling us that Allah would punish us for us for distressing her-a widow. Behind her I could hear shrieks, wailing and the breaking of glass. We had had a tough few days removing all previous medications from the attendants and it was imperative that Salia and I begin the new medication therapy so that the attendants could control the inmates. I called the supervisor, the supervisors supervisor and finally Fatima to gain

entry as the attendant was simply doing what she had been trained to-protect her women. Any change in routine was highly suspect especially by a foreign agency. Three hours later, we finally walked through the doors, and as inured as I am to suffering I realized I had been avoiding visiting this house with its chaos of human minds gone awry. Salia, very comfortable with these women professionally set about medicating them. The attendants were affectionate also but had various tough methods of restraining the agitated ones. A number of the women were naked, talking to themselves in a language that only they can understand. But the images from this first visit there still haunt me. Salia and I and the attendant walked out to the courtyard to the far back corner where the attendant took out a key and unlocked a door. Into the doorway stepped a beautiful, unclothed young woman, with startling blue eyes and long black hair. She stared at us, took her medication and juice and the retreated back into the dark hole that was her room and the attendant closed and locked the door after her. Two months ago, she had bitten off another inmates lip and now this dark room is her life. My husband says that we may experience some miracles with our new therapy because they have never been treated. Salia and the attendants are beginning to add activities. Salia has designed a pretty uniform with Velcro fastening for the inmates that feel compelled to rip off their clothing from time to time. We collect small gifts for the attendants and try to make their work easier. This has to be one of the darkest most unconfrontable corners of Afghanistan. We hope that if we can change something in the quality of these womens lives, it will change the ARCS staffs notion of what their job is from the work of protecting residents during the war rehabilitation and the giving of hope to their residents.

PARSA in the Hazarajat Community Village Schools

The Village of Jawzjareen

The Village of Golden Oats

Last fall I was traveling through Bamyan province on a survey project and on my day off, my translator, Hassina and I decided to tour up a valley that was recommended to us, near Bamyan City. We stopped our car at the point the road ran out and started up the valley on foot. Halfway up the pathway we encountered two little girls, and a donkey carrying 200 pounds of flour, stopped in the middle of the path. The girls were tugging, pulling and beating the donkey that was not to be persuaded to move one inch. Upon examination we discovered the donkey was very sick. Reluctantly, I decided to get involved and sent Hassina up the hill to find another donkey. We unloaded the sick one and waited for Hassina to get back. I asked them where their parents were. The older girl said Our father was killed by Taliban, and we live with our mother and two other sisters at the top of the valley by ourselves. Our brother is a sheepherder high in the mountains and we are able to live because of him. Hassina arrived with the other donkey and a young boy; we loaded up the donkey and walked up the mountainside, stopping at our benefactors house for tea. I decided at this point to continue on up with the donkey to see where these two little girls lived. Discussion over tea with the Afghan man about the community situation revealed that about 60% of the families were trying to support widows, war victims and orphans. I asked if the girl children were able to attend the public school 2 kilometers down the valley and he just laughed. Of course! He said, but they are needed by the mother to do the work of the house and to tend the animals -if there was time for them to gothey had no male relative to escort them! After tea this gentleman escorted me up the mountain introducing me to various families, giving me an account of the people of his village. A father without legs from a war wound struggling to support his family, a fourteen year old girl taking care of six siblings living in the ruins of a house-both parents dead from the war, a man caring for his own family and three widows with their children-his three brothers dead from the war. I was very moved as I walked through this village, not by pity but by pride in these people as they struggle after such loss to care for one another. At the very, very top of this community was a little tiny house. We panted our way up to meet two beautiful older sisters of my two little girls. They ran to get their mother, who was younger than I but

looked twenty years older-a no-nonsense, snuff eating, hard working woman who was astonished to see me show up on her front door. As I sat with these women my resolve to work in the Hazarajat crystallized and I promised to come back in the spring with a program and work for the women. Hassina and I distributed what money we had with us to the poorest women, which is something I just do not do here any more. I did it that day because I was so present to the imminent harshness of approaching winter and so impressed by the sweet strength of these families. Descending the valley, Hassina and I extracted a promise from the leader of the shura for land and a place to make a community garden. Last month I returned to Jawzjareen with my son, Colin with a sun oven donated by the New Hudson Foundation. The little girls, faces so hardened by work and responsibility had a smile for me. Bibijan, the hard bitten mother looked at me as if I was nuts, bringing her this contraption as well as showing up to keep my promises to her. (The sun oven reduces their work by hours everyday as well as expense) We spent a leisurely afternoon, learning about the sun oven, discussing plans for the Community Village and the garden, negotiating with the shura leader for land to build. I told Bibijan that it was her responsibility to learn the sun oven so she can teach others when I came back. She noted that I was putting a lot of responsibility on her. I agreed with no apology. The two older girls drew me aside to ask me for face cream. They addressed me as auntie and as auntie I answeredHelp your mother figure out how to use the oven and I will teach you to make face cream, and you will go to school! Jawzjareen is now part of our work, our community, and our family. We have begun it together. Our first Community Village School in the Hazarajat. Marnie Gustavson, Spring 2007 For more information about our Hazarajat Community Village Schools please e-mail Marnie at mgustav@mac.com

In Afghanistan, there are 5 million children at risk. of the population of Afghanistan is under the age of 19. Against that scenario, it is difficult to understand why we are so stubborn about supporting the rights of 400 children in this government institution. We have to start somewhere, and say that it is our job as adults to care for these children of war and there is no excuse for their neglect or pain. And this is where PARSA has taken our stand.joined by many now, Afghans and internationals including the vice president of the country, Dr. Khalily. My son, Colin Hume wrote a journal entry about it from his perspective that I would like to share with you. This project has not been easy. It is by no means over. Yesterday I was told that our protocol with the orphanages has been canceled meaning that we do not currently have permission to do our work with the children because of our report on the conditions in the orphanage. We have deeply appreciated your support and we will not stop pushing for reform. (Most of Colins journal about his trip to visit us can be read at www.marniegustavson.blogspot.com) 5/16/07 Journal entry by Colin Hume Yesterdays big adventure was a visit to the Allahoddin orphanage in Kabul. This is the orphanage that the staff of PARSA has been working with for the past eight months. It is because of the conditions found here that we had a meeting earlier with the deputy minister in charge of Martyrs and Social Affairs, along with several other international NGO's in the first week of my trip. PARSA staff, with my mother at the helm had blown the whistle on the conditions at the orphanage, inciting a larger investigation into these homes in Kabul and throughout the rest of the country. I was curious to see first-hand what these poor children are dealing with. When we arrived the PARSA Well-Being staff headed off to start their childrens program of health education and yoga with the boys that has been going on for a while. Yasin, my mother and I toured around the common area and the boys dormitories with a woman from the European Commission, who was here to see first-hand the conditions of the orphanage. The European Commission is in control of 30 million euros in donations to Afghan social causes. This woman will be presenting her findings and could possibly recommend that use the information gained here to leverage the

Alluhoddin Orphanage:

ministry in acting swiftly and concisely on the recommendations of the recently formed committee investigating conditions throughout the country. The dispersal of this funding could be conditional and tied to the ministry acting on the recommendations of the committee formed to investigate the problems. This is potentially the leverage that my mom has needed, helping to legitimize PARSAs role in the matter as the initiating voice for systemic, long-lasting change. As we toured through and our presence became known I could see the children running through their rooms straightening up their beds and making it look nice. There looked to be fresh new sheets on all of the beds, which Yasin said was a very recent change. He commented that it appears that the pressure they had put on the minister had started to pay-off a little. On the surface things looked to be in better order, much nicer than previously described. However, the smell of dirty bodies and unclean facilities permeates the buildings. Its much harder to disguise these things and this tells the real story of the orphanage and basic needs gone unmet. At one point we stopped in and observed what the PARSA staff were doing in their program. It started with some discussion on basic hygiene; washing hands, brushing teeth, covering your mouth to cough etc.. The children would be asked a question and given turns to answer. They very proudly stood up and presented what they knew on the topic at hand, obviously loving the attention and commendation this brought. The program then continued with some basic yoga presented by a new PARSA staff member, an Afghan American named Molly. She was a Yoga teacher in the States and has a Masters in education. She has great ideas and will be a great contribution of knowledge to PARSA. At first the boys were a little squirrelly and self conscious about the class, but as it went on they became more centered and serious about trying to do the moves right. They were obviously having great fun, despite any initial embarrassment. My presence with the camera was contributing to the embarrassment so I didnt stay long. As I exited the room I came out into the dark hallway where Yasin, mom and the woman from the EC were talking with about 15 little boys. She was asking questions such as, when was the last time you were allowed to bathe? How do you like it here?. The boys had no problem voicing their complaints, though they said that the staff had threatened to kill them if they did so. The kids were not to talk of their problems to outsiders anymore. They said they werent afraid of this, likely because they have

learned they have support from outsiders that will watch out for them. Several had medical problems that were unattended to, one boy had blood in his urine, and several had foot problems. When asked about the last time they bathed they said that the shower facilities were now working, but when they had requested access from the staff they had been denied. The boys said the last time they had bathed was when it had snowed (months earlier). I could see myself, when entering the compound that children were using the water pump in the middle of the courtyard to wash themselves, though obviously not completely, or with soap. There was laundry hanging off of playground equipment in the courtyard and girls washing clothes in the shade of slides, apparently they still have to do this themselves. Hopefully they are not still being forced to do the boys laundry as had been previously discovered. I kept watching the EC consultants reactions and could tell she was distressed. I had at first thought she might be duped by the tidiness of the rooms and clean sheets on the beds, thinking that all was well. But in conversation afterwards she was more appalled at the conditions than I was. Again, you cant cover up the smell, or ignore the complaints of the young boys we talked to. Despite the small changes there are so many more needed. The buildings themselves look terrible, the outsides and all the rooms need re-painting. Though there is more pressing needs, I believe this to be important too. It is crucial to a childs feeling of self-worth to be in a place that is comfortable and looks nice. When this is the case they valued, that people care about them and what happens to them. This is especially important to a child with no family. These children deserve to be treated well. I was not allowed to visit the girls dormitory so most of my interactions were with the boys. They were gregarious and fun. They loved having their picture taken and getting to see themselves on my camera. They jumped around, walking on their hands performing all sorts of acrobatics. They started getting more adventuresome, jumping off beds and I started to worry they would hurt themselves so stopped taking pictures of them.

Instead I tried talked with them, they loved displaying all the English words they knew. Today some breakthroughs were made. Enough pressure has been put on the minister that he is apparently starting to enact some changes, even without the Committees report. The National director of the Orphanages has been moved into the orphanage to intervene and monitor the goings-on more directly and to begin implementing what changes can be made immediately. It appears that through all of the difficulties, positive change is beginning to occur, at least in the Allahoddin orphanage. This is only the start of what is needed, but its something. I am so proud of my mother, Mahbouba and PARSA staff for taking the problem to the Ministry and not relenting, despite what was at times strong opposition. Though a small organization they have gathered enough international pressure to start things rolling in the right direction. At the heart of it, through all the political wrangling, everyone really does want the children to be well taken care of. It is a testament to what power a small grass-roots organization of concerned people can have when they are invested in making a difference. Colin Hume (Colin_hume@yahoo.com)

My husband and I are coming home to Seattle!!! And we will be bringing Yasin Farid, our Afghan Director for his first visit. Join us for an evening About PARSA Friday, August 17 6-9 at the Mercer Island Community Center We so look forward to meeting all of you and talking about the real story in Afghanistan. Marnie and Norm Gustavson

Our advocacy work on behalf of the children has doubled our workload.as worthwhile as it is. We are working with 105 children and Molly Howitt; our child specialist has begun a sponsorship program for our orphans. It is a bit different as it primarily covers PARSAs costs of developing the program and making changes in the orphanage system here, but our sponsors are helping us pioneer programs that are new to childrens programs in Afghanistan. And by becoming a sponsor you can connect and correspond with one special child. Please contact Molly Howitt if you are interested in becoming one of our sponsors. Thank you!!! Marnie Friends of PARSA Sponsorship Program for Afghan Orphans In Alluhoddin Orphanage We invite you to support PARSA in this pivotal year of program development by sponsoring one of our children at $25 dollars a month or $300 for a year. This will allow us to complete this pilot program so that it can be replicated in other Afghan government institutions caring for children. Sponsoring a child will allow us to train and develop our staff, provide supplemental medical care, clothing and other necessities dependant on each childs needs. We will introduce you to your child and they will write a monthly letter, which we will send you along with our monthly report. Detailed information is available about our program, our budget, and our advocacy work with the Afghan government on behalf of the Afghan children. PARSA is registered as a 501c3 tax deductible non-profit and your contributions will be tax deductible. Please e-mail Molly Howitt, PARSA child specialist, at mollyhowitt@gmail.com if you are interested in this sponsorship program. Please go to our web journal at www.parsakabul.blogspot.com to read more about the children who are participating in our pen pal project Young Friends of PARSA.

Our Artisa ns have bee n work ing hard an d THE GIFT SHO P is Open w ith new ite ms.
PARSA Gift Shop is currently developing products that will sell nationally as well as internationally so that PARSA disabled, and

widows can learn a craft that they will be able to earn a living from after they leave PARSA programs. PARSA to our patients so that they achieve self-sufficiency. Economic Programs are dedicated to long-term support

All items in the PARSA Gift Shop are part of an Economic Program that supports disabled and widows to selfsufficiency. Contact Palwasha Madomi at p_madomi@hotmail.com for more information about the artisans products. you! From all the PARSA staff.our best to all of www.Afghanistan-parsa.org

www.marniegustavson.blogspot.org

www.parsakabul.blogspot.o rg

Kargha Road, Kabul, Afghanistan 0799020588

Maristoon Red Crescent Society

Main Office: