Homage to 9/11 by Janet McKenzie
2007-12-05 @ 13:08:31
New Initiatives in Afghanistan
2007-11-14 @ 09:58:30
Courtesy Ted Achilles
Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation is able to support reconstruction primarily in the field of education in Afghanistan.
The Foundation is joining with others in constructing a library in Afghanistan and is indebted to an inspiring American Councils YES student from Bamyan who identified the need to upgrade an existing facility. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation has established a relationship with the Shuhada Organization, an indigenous non-governmental and non-profit organization committed to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan with special emphasis on the empowerment of women and children. Shuhada will be responsible for the entire project, participate in some aspects of fund raising and manage the facility once completed. The governor of Bamyan donated the land in an area slated to become the new bazaar. See Shuhada Organization for more information about this impressive organization.
Courtesy of Shuhada
Excerpts from an e-mail from Shuhada
1) Study Hall: The design includes a study hall which is spacious and can accomodate seventy people.
2) Net Café: The design provides for a net café for eleven internet users.
3) Coffeehouse: A coffeehouse will accommodate eighteen people and provide tea, coffee and biscuits. This coffeehouse will have a small kitchen labeled "store" on the design. A watchman, needed for the library, will run the coffeehouse. The salary of watchman will be provided by the proceeds of the shop.
4) Bathrooms: Three bathroom facilities are included.
5) Bookshelves: The design provides for seven rows of bookshelves which will accommodate thousands of books.
Courtesy of Shuhada
This project conforms to the 9/11 Commission Recommendation that guides our work: The United States should rebuild the scholarship, exchange, and library programs that reach out to young people and offer them knowledge and hope. Where such assistance is provided, it should be identified as coming from the citizens of the United States.
The library will expand the Foundation's activity to a new province and ethnic population.
Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe Magazine
In Logar, thanks to individual donations and support from charitable organizations, the Foundation is extending water into a room at the school that will serve as a kitchen and constructing a septic system. It provided an annual stipend for teachers' salaries and purchased much needed school supplies.
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Rafiq
There are two primary projects for the Wardak orphans. The Foundation is purchasing arable land in a safe province to build a greenhouse and cultivate products for sale. In Wardak it is supporting the purchase of goats and cows which will be sold to a hospital in Kabul. The villagers and orphans will acquire vocational skills while providing an income stream for the schools, clinic and orphanage there. Again generous outside foundation and individual pledges support this work.
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Rafiq
Finally the Foundation has increased the number of long-term exchange students, some of whom have siblings we didn’t recruit but enjoy. With Dave Edwards, Ted Achilles and Jean Kissell’s help we hope to continue finding qualified students for good private and public schools. Thanks to support from organizations and individuals, our Foundation provides host families, funds necessary travel, insurance, medical, dental, clothing, tutoring, and educational needs and in rare cases pays tuition. These children are the light of our lives. They are also the hope of Afghanistan. “It is this hope, above all, which gives strength to live and continually try new things."
Sally Goodrich
Creating Dialogue and Building Leadership through Student Exchange
2007-04-06 @ 11:47:37
EMMA WILLARD, TROY, NY
Emma Willard School
Ted Achilles, Afghanistan Director of American Councils, David B. Edwards, Williams College Afghan scholar, Trudy Hall, Head of School, Julie Bradley, Director of International Admissions and Sally Goodrich collaborated during a thoughtful process which resulted in the enrollment of two academically talented sisters who will receive full scholarships. The Foundation is deeply grateful to the school for creating this remarkable opportunity. When not at school the girls will reside with Peter Goodrich's aunt and uncle.
BERKSHIRE SCHOOL, SHEFFIELD, MA
Berkshire School
Berkshire School, the New England college preparatory school from which Peter Goodrich graduated in 1985, welcomed its second Afghan student in the fall of 2007.
Ted Achilles, Country Director of the Afghanistan for American Councils for International Education, recommended a student for post graduate study at Berkshire. Sally Goodrich interviewed the student in Kabul in April 2007.
One of Berkshire's two students was accepted early decision to Williams College, Williamstown, MA.
THE TAFT SCHOOL, WATERVILLE, CT
The Taft School
Peter Frew, Director of Admissions at the Taft School in Watertown, CT, Dave Edwards, alumnus of Taft, Ted Achilles of Kabul, Afghanistan, Jean Kissell of WADAN and Sally Goodrich have collaborated on the selection of a candidate for Taft. This student will receive a full scholarship, enter Taft as a sophomore and reside with the Goodriches when not at school.
The Foundation is indebted to Taft for supporting its initiative to provide high quality education for the next generation of Afghanistan’s leaders.
MOUNT GREYLOCK REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA
Mount Greylock Regional High School
Mt. Greylock Regional High School has made room for the brother of last year's Afghan student. He will enter as a sophmore and be hosted by a family in Williamstown, MA.
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY, CANTON, NY
St. Lawrence University
The Foundation assumed this semester’s tuition contribution for an Afghan student at St. Lawrence University. The student was a former American Councils YES exchange student.
SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY, SLIPPERY ROCK, PA
SRU
The Foundation continues to supply the tuition and educational expenses of an Afghan student who spent his summer working for the Welfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan or WADAN, the indigenous non-governmental organization that guides the Foundation's work in Afghanistan. This student returns to Slippery Rock University for his sophmore year.
To learn more about WADAN, please use the link below:
Welfare Association for Development of Afghanistan
All students will return to Afghanistan after completing their studies.
The Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation
2007-03-29 @ 13:37:34
Bates College Memorial
The Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation, established after Peter's death on board the second plane to hit the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001, until recently worked primarily in the Pashtun provinces of Afghanistan supporting education and addressing the fundamental needs of fragile populations.
As Chair of the Board of Families of September 11th, Peter's father, Don, will continue to work to prevent terrorism while preserving civil liberties in the United States. Don is a trial attorney.
Peter's mother, Sally, directs the work of the Foundation and serves as an advisory board member to Our Voices Together. Sally is a public school administrator.
We are joined by many who believe we can take affirmative steps to fashion a safer, more equitable world. We all share a sense of urgency and purpose.
