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Afghanistan Demain is a French non profit organization created in
October 2001 to help Afghan children via micro-projects of shelter,
support and education.
The organization was founded by Ehsan
Mehrangais, one of the street children who were living in the foster home
created in Kabul by Serge de Beaurecueil in the 60’s. This project is born
out of Ehsan’s own experience as a child of the streets and his deep
understanding of what it means to grow up in a safe environment, to have
basic daily comforts, and to receive education.
Our
Activities
Afghanistan Demain runs two types of structure :
The Day Care Center
A first Day Care center was opened in April
2003 in the area of Qalaï Wakil. A second Day- care center opened in
September 2003 in the area of Chelsetoun, and a third in April 2004 in the
area of Demazang. These day-care centers are supported by the EC/ CRC
project.
Each
center is an open-space for a 100 to 120 children and teenagers. It
provides a place of respite, a sympathetic ear, a place to share and to be
heard. They respond to primary needs: the children can rest, wash, receive
basic care for minor scratches and scrapes, and a snack is served. The
Centre gives reading and math classes (providing all the necessary school
supplies), basic hygiene and health education. It offers a variety of
recreative activities such as artistic, manual, language game, free,
sport, “discovery” (tv, science and nature) activities and also organizes
group outings, to bring both culture and nature to the children.
The children come in the centers per shift. One shift lasts 4 hours. 2
hours are dedicated to “formal” activities and 2 hours to “educational”
activities. Sport activities represent 2 hours a week for the children and
teenager girls and 3 to 4 hours for the teenager boys.
The Family houses
The Family Houses provides 6-12 years old
orphans a setting which both fulfills their needs for secure environment
as well as respect their need for freedom. In those homes, a married
afghan couple is acting like parents for 15 children. The couple is helped
by a woman, recruited from among the many war widows of Afghanistan.
The
first family house, named “Padar Home”, opened in April 2002 and is taking
care of 15 young boys. A second “Padar home” for boys opened in March 2004
and a third one, for girls,
is planned to
open.
Our Beneficiaries
In July 2005, our beneficiaries
totalized up to 329 children and teenagers, from 6 to 14 years old, 50%
male and 50% female.
All the
children are coming from families in deep economic difficulties and they
never went to school before. Some of them are orphans and need to work to
support their families.
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