Spirit of America

Army Empowering Girls in Afghanistan

Rachel Hudak provide supplies to a Girl's School in Bagram

The female literacy rate in Afghanistan is estimated at only 12% (UNICEF). Educating and empowering young Afghan women is an important component of change and a harbinger of a better future for the country. Rachel Hudak stationed at Bagram Airfield has a heart for being part of the change for a school near the base. Hudak shared that "...this is an exceptional opportunity that we can provide some very needed basic necessities to [the girls seeking an education]."

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Rachel Hudak Reaching Out to Afghan Girls
Spirit of America received an introduction to Rachel from a wonderful organization, Soldier's Angels "Ladies of Liberty". The Ladies of Liberty were already helping Rachel with some personal items for the troops and thought SoA would be a good fit to help with this outreach to the local community. The Ladies of Liberty shared this email request for assistance from Rachel:

"I am often asked what I need or what can be done to help. Well, I finally found something that I am pouring my heart into. This is a project of collecting school supplies, basic hygiene items, and "girlie" items for the local girls' school here in Afghanistan. It's approximately 10 miles away from our base ...and girls are only allowed to attend up to the 8th grade. This is an exceptional opportunity that we can provide some very needed basic necessities to them. It's hard to imagine a country where you cannot go to school because you are a girl. This struck a chord within me.

So, I am calling on all my loved ones, friends, their friends, and friends of friends for help. My Brigade Chaplain is leading the push on this and below is some information that he sent to me about the school, what they need, and goals they are trying to reach.

A few facts are as follows...

1) The school consists of eight classes, numbering between 150-225 students. Numbers vary since the girls WALK UP TO AN HOUR to attend classes.

2) Basic school supplies needed for this year are:
    a. pens, markers, crayons, paper, mechanical pencils, colored pencils, folders etc.
    b. Hygiene items for girls...soaps, lotion, hair items/brushes, hair ties, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste.
    c. Fun "girly stuff" , i.e. plastic jewelry, nail polish, head bands and so on.

3) Female soldiers and officers of the KY ADT teach basic hygiene to the girls i.e. face and hand washing, tooth brushing and dental care.

4) Cold weather items are also very much needed! Shoes, boots, coats, hats, gloves and scarves (winter gear).

5) School ends mid November and begins again in February.

6) For the beginning of the new school year (Feb 2010) we are starting to collect backpacks and school supplies. The goal is to distribute over 225 backpacks."

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