From Yimeng:

Who Says Kids Can’t Make a Difference? Four Kids Raise $128 for CanILF

It was through a school project on social justice that our group found out about the Canadian International Learning Foundation. This project on global education required several periods of research on the topic. During one such period, we discovered a website belonging to a volunteer-run organization dedicated to fighting for worldwide education- www.canilf.org. Coincidentally, we needed to support an organization that supported this subject area and the Canadian International Learning Foundation fit the requirements perfectly. Through the website, we managed to generate a basis for our campaign. Based on suggested ideas and past fundraisers, we decided to host a bake sale. We won the in-class vote on which organization to sponsor resulting in whole class support for our fundraiser.

Once that was settled, we had to consider how to advertise our fundraiser, and pull it off. With help from Ryan Aldred, the president of the organization, we managed to piece together a draft of how everything should go, and finalized it prior to an announcement made to the whole school. After all the oral preparations, we were finally ready to start the physical ones; baking.

We asked the class for help bringing in baked goods. We ourselves tried to bake as much as possible. The end result was a cartload of treats; tray after tray of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and squares. When we began to lay everything out on the table, the amount of food we managed to bring in was amazing. With some posters set up around the stand, we were ready to meet the consumer needs. Our display attracted the attention of so many people; students of all ages lined up, clamoring for our selections. Several passing teachers joined in the fun and the line to our sale stretched out all the way down the hall. By the end of recess, we had sold out and earned a hefty sum, considering the circumstances. Our whole class found the bake sale to be a very enjoyable experience, knowing that we had a made a difference made it even better. We are very proud to have been able to donate to CanILF, and help children around the world receive a better education.

Aurora Senior Public School

Sanghoon Oh, Jack Pan, Shayna Pan, Yimeng Wang

Ehsanullah Ehsan addresses the crowd

Ehsan reports on the actions of the day and includes quotes from prominent members of the organization and people in the community.  PLUS: A text version of Ehsan’s International Women’s Day speech delivered to graduates, guests and the media present.

International Women’s Day and Graduation (pdf)

As Canadian and U.S. malls fill with teenage girls looking for just the right prom dress, women and girls in Kandahar have just crossed a stage of their own. Two hundred female students graduated on March 10th from the Afghan-Canadian Community Center (ACCC), a 1500-student educational institute supported by the Canadian International Learning Foundation, a registered Canadian charity. The school and many individual students are sponsored by Canadian donors as well as the Canadian and U.S. governments.

200 women graduate from the Afghan-Canadian Community Center in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Maryam was sponsored by donors through the Canadian International Learning Foundation’s Adopt a Student program. The 19-year old lives in Kandahar with her mom, sisters and brothers. “It is not easy to get an education for Afghan women, especially in Kandahar city, but we didn’t give up,” says Maryam. “All the students are really happy. My family is really proud.”

One of the graduates receives her diploma from Dr. Rangina Wisa, wife of the governor of Kandahar

ACCC school in Kandahar has 1,500 students (most of whom are women). Audience looks on as hundreds of female students graduate.

Sponsoring a future graduate takes just $15 per month on average, depending on the course. With a third of the 200 female graduates already securing employment, the investment is clearly life-changing.

“The students are in demand by international development agencies, local businesses and the Afghan government. It gives the women the chance to support their families and be part of the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” explains Aldred. “From past years we know that employed graduates are financially supporting an average of five family members. Not only does that mean a better life for the women and their families, but it also helps to slowly show the community the value of women and of women’s education.” 

“These results are thanks to the continued support provided to us by the benevolent people of Canada and the very generous financial assistance given to us by the Canadian government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The U.S. Department of State has also supported English and leadership courses,” says Ehsanullah Ehsan, Director of the ACCC.

Mehmood Karzai - President of Ayno Foundation spoke at the event

The ACCC started in 2007 with a small group of students and the help of the Canadian International Learning Foundation. Today, it is a respected institution with 1,500 students, most of whom are female. Students receive an education in business management, Information Technology, English and communications. More than half the ACCC’s funding is provided by the Canadian government through CIDA. That funding will continue until September 2012. Individual donors sponsor students like Maryam.

To learn more or to donate to send a Kandahar woman to school, visit the Canadian International Learning Foundation’s website at www.canilf.org.

Media Contact
Robyn Crawford
Canadian International Learning Foundation
Mobile: 403.650.4608
robyn.crawford@educatorvolunteer.net
www.canilf.org

Reprinted below is an article written by UNAMA Kandahar and Nimroz, supplemented with some of our pictures.

Female rolemodels inspire girls, women in Kandahar and Nimroz

A school principal receives a gift from Ehsan

Hundreds of students, parents and teachers of the Afghan Canadian Community Center (ACCC) braved intimidation and violence and commemorated the Peace Day today. Representatives from various Kandahar-based organizations including UNAMA, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Women Affairs Department and Education Department, Civil Societies and media participated in the event. The celebration included inspirational speeches, songs and poems about importance of peace and women role in building peace in Afghanistan. The ACCC marks Peace Day after an eerie silence on peace loomed over Afghanistan as a result of assassination of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, the head of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council.

In addition to providing professional education to the people of Kandahar, ACCC observed the Peace Day by assigning peace-related topics to its students. Numerous commemorative speeches were delivered to promote the ideals of peace, justice, democracy, development and non-violence in Afghanistan in particular and the world in general. Special prayers were said for permanent peace in Afghanistan. Discussions and debates were held in classes on peace.
The speakers stated that peace is always possible if only Afghans, from all walks of life, take active part in every peace building effort without any greed. They called on Afghan leaders to sincerely and honestly commit to tolerance, justice, rule of law and compassion by pursuing national interests rather than personal greed and tribal interests. They appreciated international community in its support to Afghanistan and urged the neighboring countries and the international community to continue to support Afghans in their struggle for peace. They implored that bloodshed must end and gun be replaced with a pen. They thanked the Canadian government and its people for supporting the ACCC to provide them the education they need and the platform they need to voice their rights.

The speakers urged the Afghan government and international community to sponsor peace building acts in Afghanistan through responsible and honest men and women, civil societies and education programs. They reiterated that the restoration of peace, democracy, and women’s rights are not possible without involving honest and responsible people with continued and increased resources and adequate investment in education development and public awareness programs.

The school was painted with peace banner and posters. Pigeons were released in the air to symbolize peace, love and freedom. The students with the best speeches were awarded prizes. Guests also received prizes. UNAMA in Kandahar helped the ACCC with some of logistics needs for the event.
Different media outlets including Afghanistan Radio Television, Kandahar TV, Hewad TV, Shamshad TV, One TV, Aryana TV, Pajhwok News Agency, Benawa website, various radio stations covered and aired the event.

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Ehsan’s speech on Peace Day

Dear students, parents, teachers and distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It is a moment of pride and honor to join you in this ceremony of marking September 21, the Peace Day and let me open my speech with an appeal for peace at a time when our homeland Afghanistan has suffered for over thirty years of war and destruction.

We as human being are called for peace by all faiths so peace is a universal truth, a human need, which cannot be denied by anyone. I am confident that the men and women who carry the honor of building peace, keeping peace in Afghanistan and around the world will continue to give from their lives, from their knowledge and from their wealth, every bit of a sacrifice and support for uplifting this universal truth.

Peace is indispensible for us, it is a beautiful thing. No wealth, no mansions, no villas, no greeneries can be enjoyed in the absence of peace. As we cannot live without water, air and food, we cannot live without a true peace with bless of freedom and justice. Wars bring destruction, torture and countless miseries. War is born of ignorance and misunderstanding. And for sure you are fighting this menace by taking pen and educating yourselves to live a prosperous and peaceful life.

We gather at a place where ignorance and hate for love of humanity are constantly fought. We gather at an institution where truth, wisdom, and understanding take roots and get perceived, that’s peace, coexistence and spread of enlightenment.

Most of our government officials and other powerful politicians are preaching peace, promising peace and asking for peace. But we the Afghans reject any peace that comes at the cost of slavery. We want true peace, the kind of peace that makes life for us worth living, the kind of peace that could enable us to grow, to prosper and to live in dignity and freedom.

Today the expenditure of billions of dollars every year in Afghanistan for the purpose of peace is fueling war and opening our wounds. The benefits we see are going to warlords, drug lords, thugs, uneducated and insensible, irrational men who are killing the peace. The imbalance of aid spending in Afghanistan has introduced to us a culture of greed – people want to be rich in one day and for this they pursue any illegal, immoral, rival and unlawful means.

When I start to talk of peace, some people here tell me it is useless to talk peace in Afghanistan. They tell me see everyone here is after money and power. They tell me in Afghanistan it is useless to talk of peace, education and wisdom. Warlords, powerbrokers and tribal lords in Afghan government and Afghan politics have introduced us a culture of corruption, greed and discrimination, which has undermined the trust and confidence between Afghan public and their government. I hope our masters adopt an attitude of care and wisdom. I urge you as the educated youth of this nation to join me and make both individual and public campaign in securing peace at all levels possible. And every student and teacher of this school, every thoughtful citizen who hates war and wishes to work peace, should begin peace effort without any personal gains.

Others have also told me peace is impossible in Afghanistan. I disagree with this notion and this belief has destroyed hope and peace in our heart and mind. It has weakened our confidence and commitment in our daily life. We must not accept this view. Our problems are manmade they can be solved by man. Man or woman’s reason, struggle and spirit have often made the impossible possible. The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction, poverty, hunger and others, are human created problems which can be resolved through human effort, understanding, tolerance and love. ACCC as a school, ACCC as an oasis of civility and human solidarity is already cultivating seeds for peace building, co-existence, love, prosperity and hope through various education programs offered to hundreds of men and women of this region on daily bases.

Sixty-five years back this world was bitterly divided and living far a part in a discord, but today you have United Nations, the UN, even the UNAMA in Kandahar and its representative today among you. Around 200 nations sit on one platform and settle issues, conflicts and disputes in dialogue and unanimity. Centuries ago in certain parts of this planet, when a baby girl was born, people would drop her into a ditch and fill it with dust, but today in many parts of the world including those regions in which woman was a disgrace now has given the woman a full social and human status. Women have as much respect, dignity and right as every other human being does. As every other people, Afghan women are now struggling to empower themselves by the light of education and other peaceful means. You the women are the witness today. You have braved to come out, join the peace building efforts, and break the wall of silence and fight any injustice. History is recording this.

Most of our senior government officials are busy dealing with their own matters. They continue to corrupt and advance their personal interests right at the expense of common Afghans. Afghans are asking for peace, but our leaders are caught up in their own enrichment. They don’t have time to implement the rule of law. Instead they have allowed their own tribal militias to take everything from Afghans, control everything and keep the Afghans in ignorance.

My fellow Afghans, unless we work for peace and change our attitude toward peace and freedom and what a justice is, rule of law is, we cannot have peace. We must show and work for peace in action even if it is at the risk of our own lives – as many of you who are studying at the ACCC are braving any intimidation and violence by joining a peace gathering today. We need to cultivate sense of common goodness, love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed.

Let’s pray for all of us, that together we succeed in building a better Afghanistan, a better world through human understanding, tolerance, justice and love for each other.

May God bless us all and prevail peace and love all over the world.

Thank you

The governor of Kandahar, Tooryalai Wesa, addresses a group of ACCC students

The students thanked the Governor and his wife for their current efforts with security, development and education.  A request was made by the students for the Governor to continue his support for the ACCC and ACCC Director Ehsanullah Ehsan’s education campaign by helping to secure funding to build a permanent facility and enable the Center to become a fully accredited Afghan post-secondary institution.

The Governor and his wife recognized the ACCC for its efficiency and effectiveness as an educational institution, saying, “We thought that the ACCC students were getting trained in technical skills only, but now we see you have also been provided additional skills that really matter in decision making and for future leaders of Afghanistan.” They also praised Ehsan’s role in advancing education in Kandahar.

Dr. Rangina Wisa generously promised to start a fundraising campaign for the ACCC in the near future.  The Governor also pledged to ensure that the ACCC received additional support from the Kandahar Education Department. The Governor, his wife and Ehsan also praised the partners and donors of the ACCC for their support of education for the people of Kandahar.

On July 3^rd 2011, Mr. Mehmood Khan Karzai, the Head of AFCO International and Ayno Foundation announced that he will provide the Afghans Learning and Development Organization (ALDO) and its subsidiary education institutions, the Afghan-Canadian Community Center (ACCC) and the newly established Afghan-American Career Academy (AACA), with 10,000 square metres land in Ayno Meena for the construction of a building and campus to support these institutions. Mr. Karzai also agreed to donate one quarter of the construction costs up to US$100,000, as well as transportation for students.

Mr. Ehsanullah Ehsan, the founder of ALDO said, “This is a great development in the expansion of my education activities in Kandahar region and the self-sustainability of the ALDO, ACCC and the new AACA.” Ehsan also noted that, since opening in January 2006, the ACCC alone – funded by individual donors, the Canadian International Learning Foundation and, the Government of Canada via the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) – has provided professional education to more than 1,760 Kandahar youth, facilitating both internationally-recognized online and campus courses in Business Management, Information Technology, and Communications. Internet for the Center is donated by Roshan Telecom.

The Center itself employs more than 70 teachers, administrators, and support staff, including 9 female teachers, and advances its courses using 100 updated computers. Ehsan also said that more than 600 graduates, both men and women, have secured highly-paid employment with national and international organizations as a result of the education provided by the ACCC. The Center has also developed academic partnerships with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Canada e-School, Vital English, the US-based National Educator Program, and the Alliance for International Women’s Rights. A permanent campus will not only help the ACCC to reach a greater number of students, it will also significantly reduce the amount of money that ALDO currently spends on rent and maintenance, thereby making it easier for the ACCC to become financially self-sustainable.

Mr. Mehmood Karzai was impressed with the education services provided by ALDO, ACCC and AACA and wanted to help these organizations to further their education services for the youth of Kandahar region. He therefore proposed convene a meeting of Kandahar businessmen to provide support for ALDO’s fundraising campaign. The SAIT Architectural Technologies program has also generously agreed to donate the time of students and faculty to help design the newly proposed campus.

Foremost among those featured are the women students of the ACCC, whose strength of character persists amidst the most challenging of circumstances. As noted by Heena Tariq, one of those interviewed: “It’s not fair we are afraid and stay home. We have to be brave. We have to study for the future and brighten our lives.”

Watch the video.

Read the article.

RoCK Tim Martin presents ACCC Director Ehsanullah Ehsan with a certificate of appreciation

At a recent event held to celebrate the achievements of the Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) partners in Kandahar, the Afghan-Canadian Community Centre (ACCC) was recognized for the vital role they’ve played as part of the Kandahar Local Initiatives Program, which outlined education as a top priority in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Tim Martin, Representative of Canada in Kandahar, presented ACCC Director Ehsanullah Ehsan with an official achievement certificate to commemorate his many accomplishments. Martin praised the efforts of the ACCC in providing job-oriented education to men and women of Kandahar and recognized the valued partnership between CIDA and the ACCC.

Martin explained, “Before we depart, CIDA wishes to take an opportunity to recognize the partnership and progress we have shared with you.” Although CIDA’s development mission in Kandahar is nearly complete and they will be moving on to Kabul, CIDA’s partnership with the ACCC will continue. On International Women’s Day 2011, the Government of Canada announced a $250,000 grant that will help the ACCC help a greater number of students while it moves toward self-sustainability.

ACCC students and teachers sign a banner of thanks for the Government of Canada

ACCC students, parents and teachers took this opportunity to give a surprise thank-you to CIDA for their ongoing support, presenting them with a friendship carpet and a thank-you banner signed by over 100 students and staff members. Ehsan presented these gifts to CIDA officials and gave a speech highlighting the importance of international friends such as CIDA in developing a peaceful and progressive Afghanistan.

Ehsan shared that, “Hundreds of us at the Afghan Canadian Community Center Kandahar are proud of the existing partnership and appreciative of your very generous humanitarian assistance in enabling many of us to be equipped with very valuable education that has helped many of us to live a better life.”

Ehsan, the Director of the Afghan Canadian Community Center, proudly issues graduation certificates to his students

The Afghan-Canadian Community Center (ACCC) in Kandahar hosted a lively celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8^th. Attendees included 600 diverse female students, along with representatives from various Kandahar-based organizations. The celebration included inspirational speeches, songs and poems about power and the passion of women.

A student delivering a speech

The ceremony also honoured the graduation of 240 female students who are now trained in leadership, business communication, Human Resources, Information and Computing Technology and English courses. Among the graduates were 50 Kandahar women who had studied with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s online Business Management program.

Afghan Senator Ronal Tarin presenting students with their certificates

The speeches illuminated the achievements of women at ACCC, Afghanistan and all over the world. Slide shows featuring prominent international women and women’s rights champions were displayed at the ACCC Resource Centre.

The celebration provided a platform for women to express opinions about social and political issues. It also presented them with an ideal opportunity to speak with the community about women’s roles and contributions to society.  Speakers addressed issues such as forced marriages, violence against women, and lack of access to education, employment and health care. They pledged to rid their communities of inequalities in decision making, complications during pregnancy, malnourishment, violence, and the many pressures that women face as a result of those abuses.

A view of the croud that has gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day

The speakers praised the Afghan Canadian Community Center for its tangible and effective actions that are empowering women with education, knowledge and information within existing cultural and religious traditions in Kandahar. Senator Rona Tarin, Member of Afghanistan Senate, said, “ACCC’s services are unforgettable in helping the women of Kandahar. I would like to thank Mr. Ehsan, the teachers and the Canadians for supporting our sisters who are graduating today. This is real and tangible achievement towards women development and marking of the International Women Day.”

Senator Rona Tarin receiving a certificate of appreciation from the US-based International Women’s Rights Alliance

Zobida Paenda, the Director of Women Affairs said, “I am given a great hope to see so many women graduating ACCC today through which they are marking this important event. I urge all of you to get education. Education is power and light. Several ACCC graduates are working and supporting my Department through very useful administrative and computer technology skills.” She thanked Ehsan for his tireless efforts and the Canadians for their support to women’s education in Kandahar and called upon all those ACCC supporters to continue with their much-needed hard work and donations.

Zobida Paenda: “I urge all of you to get education. Education is power and light.”

Dr. Nasreen, Director of Mirwais Hospital praised ACCC efforts in building women capacity. She thanked the many supporters worldwide who strive to provide valuable education and employment opportunities to the vulnerable women of Kandahar.

Syed Rohani Agha, a community leader said, “Time is short and I want tell you in short. Prophet Mohammad was given birth by a woman and she has raised him. This means woman is noble and a great creature of God so it is incumbent upon all of us to respect woman and give her full rights including education, which Islam has given.” He said that the people of Kandahar were supporting Ehsan in his efforts to provide women valuable education within the cultural values of the people of Afghanistan.

Women attending ACCC graduation and IWD 2011

Ehsan, the Director of the Afghan Canadian Community Center, called on women to seek knowledge and information, even if it involves hardship. He emphasized that women are an integral part of humanity. Without women, humanity is only half complete or non-existent and only enlightened women can institute a peaceful and tolerant society and a better world.

Ehsan also announced several achievements, including a $250,000 grant approved by Canadian government through the Canadian International Development Agency for ACCC’s women students sustainable skill building, ACCC’s housing of a new academy in close partnership with the US-based National Educator Program, the launching of a US-based International Women’s Rights Alliance leadership and communication development program with a grant of $40,000 approved by the US State Department for 260 women students of ACCC and the enrolment of 20 more ACCC’s women students on Canada-based SAIT Polytechnic Institute online education program.

The event culminated with the presentation of certificates of achievement to all the participants who had contributed to ACCC, women rights and social services in Kandahar. ACCC also awarded certificates of appreciation to several of its prominent international partners and well wishers. The certificates were generously provided by US-based International Women Rights Alliance. The ACCC gave the participants gifts of clothes, school bags, stationery and teapots. The guests also enjoyed refreshments, all of which were arranged by the ACCC and its students’ contributions.

Ehsan distributing certificates of appreciation prepared by the International Women Rights Alliance

Local and international media representatives, including Kandahar Television, Hewad Television, Canadian Press, Al-Jazeera, Pajhwok, Radio Television of Afghanistan, Afghan Azada Radio and Associated Press, covered the event.

While this event has celebrated the hard work that ACCC, its partners and its students have put in over the past year, they all know that there is still much work to be done. They will continue to change their communities through the education of dedicated women who have the desire, need and drive to learn essential employment skills.