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.
Wardak Orphans with a New Flock of Sheep
Photo courtesy of Kathleen RafiqThere are two primary projects for a village in Wardak. The Foundation is purchasing arable land elsewhere to cultivate products for sale. The Schenectady County Library One Book One County program in Schenectady, NY and the Birmingham Unitarian Church, Bloomfield, MI, purchased a flock of sheep to generate income for the orphanage, schools and health clinic. Other outside foundations, organizations and individual pledges support this work.
Arable Land for Orphans
Photo courtesy of Kathleen RafiqThe Foundation is indebted to its partner NGO, WADAN, for support in its Logar and Wardak projects. To learn more about WADAN, please use the link:
Welfare Association for Development of AfghanistanThe 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.
The Design of the Bamyan Library
Courtesy of ShuhadaThis 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.
Sally in Logar in April 2007
Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe MagazineIn 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.
Finally the Foundation has increased the number of its long-term exchange students. 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