Blankets donated by Spirit of America are unloaded by U.S. Forces

Last month, Spirit of America assisted the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team by providing blankets and hygiene items (bought from a local vendor) to distribute to women prisoners in Kandahar City's Sarposa Prison and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Center.

Afghan prisons aren't particularly renowned for their high standards. Conditions can be particularly harsh for women prisoners, especially those with children. These children often live with their mothers in the prisons, deprived of comfort and opportunity.

The Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team prepares to hand out clothes, blankets & hygiene items to women prisoners and their children

In this context, Spirit of America agreed to provide blankets and hygiene items for these women and their children to maintain a modicum of comfort during the winter. Furthermore, Greenwood Community Church in Greenwood, Colorado, donated clothing for the prisoners.

While we cannot show pictures of the women and their children receiving the items, we can report that the response was very positive. In the words of the chief women's advisor of the Kandahar PRT, "[t]he items delivered were needed and appreciated. Everyone thanked the team for their kindness and generosity for taking the time to conduct the visit."

While I tend to focus on projects that have a more sustainable impact on the local economy or security, sometimes humanitarian projects are simply too logical to pass up. In this case, we can provide some of the bare minimums required for women prisoners to retain their dignity.

I would very much like to follow up by providing learning and enriching opportunities for the children of these prisoners. I believe both mother and child would benefit from this, both in perhaps nudging them towards a better future, and in providing some relief from the drudgery of their surroundings.

Note: Spirit of America provided these items entirely as a humanitarian gesture. We neither inquired, nor intend to inquire, as to the reasons why these women have been imprisoned.

Toby Bonthrone
Afghanistan Field Rep.