Recent Injury - Update

Sorry folks for the recent inactivity. Many of us got hit with a stomach bug, but are all better now. Due to the bug, we have delayed our visit to the orphanage until all participants are 100 percent healthy.

We did get to take the groundskeeper to the doc. The doc treated the groundskeeper and gave him pain medicine to take as needed. After the doc's visit, the groundskeeper flexed saying he felt young again. What an awesome spirit!

Recent Injury

This evening some of our guys went to the girls' orphanage to treat the groundskeeper for a injury as a result of a motorcycle accidents. Two-wheel modes of transportation are prevalent throughout the city. So are accidents. The groundskeeper, an older gentleman, had multiple contusions and was suffering from injuries outside of the skill level of our medic. We were able to provide pain medications to ease his suffering and will transport him to the hospital tomorrow. His spirits are high in spite of his injuries. Previously, he has survived multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head that leaves him blind in one eye.

Plumbing Project Final

Well, we had The Plumber look into the four clogged stalls. He brought over an air compressor to see if it was an easy fix or required more attention. Because of his honesty, hard work, and good business ethics, we asked him to do what it takes and let us know how much it costs. After not being satisfied the first time or the second time with the carpenter who did the screen doors (had to make him do the work over three times), my trustworthiness in local businessmen is limited to sample work and partial payment until completed.

The Plumber had to break up the concrete in several places, replace the piping, and relay the concrete. He did a great job and now the kids have a working bathroom again. The Plumber charged us $50 for the entire job! donating much of his time to the orphanage pro bono.

The entire plumbing upgrade costs us: $550.

Next Project - Woodwork. Since we had the screen doors installed, most of the flies have been kept out. However, by just opening the windows, flies begin to buzz around everything, especially the fan. Our next project will focus in on screens for the windows (16 large windows, 4 small) and classroom upgrades - 4 blackboards and 4 bookshelves. We have sought out a new carpenter. The total estimate cost is 23,200 Afghanis (equivalent to $465). We will pay $260 upfront and the rest on satisfactory completion. Work starts tomorrow.

Plumbing Project II

Here are the bathrooms that were originally built. A great job - with plumbing and electricity. Water is fed into the bathrooms by a submersible pump. The headmaster is very leery about leaving the pump on for any considerable length in time due to wear and tear on the pump. By putting a cistern on top, the kids will have water on demand.

Here is the water tank after we loaded it on a motorcycle-drawn tuk tuk. The tank was about $180. The tuk tuk driver delivered the tank, helped lift it onto the roof, went and got some cinder blocks and returned, and help put those on the roof (about two hours of his time) for $10. That's a good day's pay for him and great assistance for us.

We just finished getting the tank on the roof. Whew! Two ropes, five guys and manual labor.

Here are the guys breaking up the concrete next to the pipe. The man in the olive drab pants is known as The Plumber. He does good work. Sorry about the pic. It doesn't seem to want to turn.

Here's the finished product complete with insulation for the cold winters. This set up allows the kids to have that on-demand water for the bathroom's that we mentioned earlier.

Unfortunately, the sewage is backed up in four of the bathrooms. We are having The Plumber take a look at this afternoon and let us know what needs to be done to fix it. Mind you, these bathrooms don't have toilet bowls, but a hole in the floor surrounded by ceramic for feet grip and ascetics. Not sure how the kids even clean themsleves afterwards except to rinse with the hose. We will have a heart to heart with the headmaster.

I can't express this enough - Your help goes a long way to changing lives. From all of us, thank you.

Plumbing Project

With the onset of warm weather our biggest concern has been basic hygiene and vectors (flies and mosquitos). The Headmaster had asked us for a water tank to put on top of the bathrooms to have gravity fed water to flow into the eight bathrroms they have. We were able to fulfill that wish with some local donations. Our expenses were as follows -
- plumbing fixtures and piping $220
- 400-liter (100 gallon) metal water tank $180
- Labor $100

Some of the next projects we anticipate are -
- screen windows $200
- bookshelves $300
- blackboard $300
- kitchen remodel $1200


Many people have asked about sending mony, For donations to any of the projects, we can now accept Paypal to heratorphanage@gmail.com.

Pictures on this latest project soon to be published.

Running an Orphanage

On 8 May 09 I had a sit down with the headmaster at the orphanage and asked her what did it take to operate the girl's orphanage. Here is a list of items provided to the orphanage by the government (items in bulk per month) -
- 600 lbs. of rice
- 18 2-gallon containers of vegetable oil
- 100 lbs. of beans
- 100 lbs of peas
- 100 lbs of tomato paste
- 100 lbs of lentils
- 100 lbs of another green grain
- 100 lbs of sugar
- 10 lbs of green tea
- 10 lbs of dry milk
- 100 eggs per day
- 15 bottles of propane for kitchen fuel
- 120 lbs. of meat (meat is eaten twice a week)

Meat runs out quickly. The government also pays for the electricity. There is a paid staff onsite. Keep in mind the average day laborer get about 120 dollars a month. The orphanage has the following staff (to include monthly salary) -
- (1) Headmaster $68/month
- (5) Teachers $68/month
- (3) Kitchen staff $56/month
- (1) Groundskeeper $56/month

Among our discussion, we brought up the fact that we will provide repairs and items to enhance the standard of living, but we will not provide money to the school. The biggest fear is while things are good with us helping out, our fix is temporary. We, the Americans, will leave and if the government cuts funds because we have helped them by giving money, the orphanage will be worse off after we are gone. Timely, we had a fortuitous meet with one Mr. Abdul Azim Akid. Mr. Akid takes inventory of the items in the orphanage to ensure that the items that are being given are getting to the kids.

Life is hard all around Afghanistan. People will take from the orphans. Our somewhat frequent visits and, now, meeting Mr. Akid allows us to keep an eye on the items you send that help the kids to a better today and a brighter tomorrow.

First of May

First and foremost, thank you to everyone that has and is sendng boxes and money. Every little bit helps. For those that can't give right now, please visit often and include the kids in your prayers. Another good day in Afghanistan. We stopped by the orphanage to inspect the new screen doors, drop off the goodies, and talk with the kids.

Some people have asked about a blog for the boy's orphanage. I will have that up in a couple of weeks. We are focusing on the girls' right now. Orphanages here in Afghanistan are like the schools, they are segregated. The schools become co-ed at the university level. Unfortunately, like the schools, the girls receive less funding.

Today, we inspected the new screen doors. The two entrance doors looked very nice. It will go a long way to keeping the flies out. Unfortunately, the screen doors to the kitchen, dining room and main office were not fitted properly. Also, there are no screens on the windows. Flies seemed to run rampant throughout the kitchen and dining room. We will have the carpenters go back to fix the doors and make screens for the windows.






Here is the front door.






We were also able to deliver conditioner, medicine, a couple books, snacks, toys, school supplies and some candy.




Here, a couple of the girls that can write are helping re-label the childrens' medicine. We also need chewable vitamins. The children do not get their daily nutrition. Vitamins will go a long way as preventative medicine.

Friday is the day off. Some of the kids were gone today. Here is a good snapshot of the kids that were there and two of the guys. See the smiling faces. Stay tuned for more news.

For more Pics of this last trip click on the pic below

Girl's Herat Orphanage