The Afghan School Project

Peter Harris is raising money for the Afghan-Canadian Community Center (ACCC) by running a marathon during Ottawa’s race weekend on May 27th. He first visited the ACCC when on assignment in Kandahar.

Regarding his decision to run the marathon to raise funds for the ACCC, Peter said: “The ridiculous notion that I can run 42.2 kms hit me during my stint in Afghanistan with Global National earlier this year. My running route on the Kandahar base took me past roaring jet fighters, rusting Soviet planes, and along a lovely dirt road that cut through a minefield. Of course, I didn’t realize it was a minefield until AFTER I ran through it …

A marathon in Ottawa is as far from an Afghan minefield as you can get but I am tying the two together. I did a story on a vocational school for women in downtown Kandahar that teaches business administration, computer skills, and English. Extremist threats and suicide bombings were forcing girls and women leave their classes so the school administrator, along with a direct donation from a small group of Canadians, opened an outreach centre closer to the residential neighbourhood where most of these women live.

The centre is thriving with over 100 students and 9 women have graduated into jobs in local businesses and government since the opening of this outreach centre. The centre offers one of the few (if not only) internet connections in the city that is open to women. My hope is to raise a little money to help keep the school up and running until some more long-term funding comes through.

How do you fit into this? Donations large and small will go a long way at the centre and help motivate me to cross the finish line in less than 4 hours – okay, maybe 5 hours. Anything I manage to raise will help and a private organization called the Cadmus Foundation in Calgary will match your donation. If you’re feeling exceptionally generous, donations over $100 will get you a tax receipt.”

I hope you’ll all join me in thanking Peter for his generous assistance, and in wishing him the best of luck during his upcoming marathon. Due to the support of people like Peter and those sponsoring him, the ACCC has been able to respond to the overwhelming demand from women in Kandahar city for profesional and technical education. To sponsor Peter with a donation or request further information, please contact staff@theafghanschool.org.