At Last…News from the Garden of Flowers!
(September 2026 E-Mail Newsletter)
We know, it’s been a looong time since our last newsletter. Sometimes things can be going so smoothly that it feels like
there isn’t much to report. However, in recent weeks and months, things began happening that we didn’t even know how to report. Today we are here to share that the Garden of Flowers is emerging from an existential crisis. Here’s what happened, from the beginning of the situation, to the government, to the final budget, and the next steps…
How It Began…
For the past four years of the Taliban government, the GoF had been operating quietly while HEWAD, our longtime local partner, kept things going. But suddenly, out of the blue, we were called upon to update our protocols with the government, and this became very complicated. Conflicting instructions, rumored changes of policy, threatening messages, and closures of Ministry departments all created a great deal of uncertainty. The GoF closed its doors for some time out of safety precautions while HEWAD worked to straighten things out with the Ministry of Social Affairs. The plan was to submit a new proposal for a center for vulnerable children which would encompass the GoF Montessori program, coupled with a program of support for high-need families with vulnerable children. (To avoid involvement with the Education Ministry, the GoF would no longer be called a school.) HEWAD began the proposal process but it was slow going, with no guarantee of acceptance by the unpredictable government.
During this time, our teachers had to stay home. They continued receiving their salaries, but on video calls they expressed their frustration and boredom, greatly missing the children and their colleagues, and so they began sharing their Montessori practices with others : Fatima began meeting regularly with mothers in her neighborhood and taught them about the value of practical life work with children. Rohina tutored neighbor schoolchildren in math and English and science. When Nadia saw her relatives’ young children being ignored and diminished, she convinced the adults to let her show the children how to carry glassware and help with household tasks; the adults were amazed at what the children were capable of.
But the teachers wanted to get back to the children at the GoF. At one point, insistent that things must get straightened out, the team fearlessly went to the Ministry themselves only to be told that as women they were not allowed to go inside the building. 
The HEWAD team in the meantime, despite their own fears of the government, made repeated, wearying trips to the Ministry for meetings and signature approvals for the new proposal, sometimes waiting for hours for a single signature which then led to another required signature, and another, all the way up to the Minister himself.
Finally, the day came when we received a message : the last signature on our proposal to the government had been procured. We are thus very happy to announce that we are back, with an officially approved project. The happiness of the team is evident in this screenshot of our video chat!
What’s the Plan? (well, basically doing what we’ve been doing all along…)
The Garden of Flowers Montessori Preschool will operate exactly as before, as a Montessori environment for children ages 3-6. However, since the scope of the work is expanding, formalizing additional support for families and older children, it will now be called the Garden of Flowers Center for Vulnerable Children.
Kinds of Support
- Children At The Center: The GoF will continue to serve about 30 – 35 vulnerable children, many of whom were already attending the GoF. (‘vulnerable’ meaning handicapped, orphans, beggars, or severely destitute)
- One new aspect is the inclusion of older children. Vulnerable boys and girls ages 6-12 will now also be part of the GoF program.
- All children will, as always, receive a healthy meal and snacks daily to support their nutrition and growth, with nutritional supplements if needed. They will continue to benefit from being in the Montessori education environment.
- The GoF team will provide health support by tracking the weight and height of all children, strengthening hygiene practices, and providing family support and education.
Support for Families: About 30 high-need families will receive monthly cash support of about $30/month, which is substantial for poor families that may be making only $100 a month or less. (Unemployment is around 40% in Kabul.)
In the Meantime, Taking an Enlightened Approach Toward the Taliban Government
The new level of engagement with the government was disconcerting at first, after years of trying to lay low. But HEWAD recently took on new leadership, and their approach has been fresh and encouraging.
It started when the Ministry officials wanted to see the GoF facilities for themselves. This was a first, and our team was nervous! But HEWAD accompanied the Ministry people, and together they toured the house and garden and saw the classrooms and children’s spaces – and the officials loved it! They were extremely impressed, saying they didn’t know of anyone else in Kabul doing such work for vulnerable children and families.
HEWAD then invited the Ministry officials for lunch at their office, also a bold move, no longer hiding. As the turbaned officials enjoyed the meal hosted by HEWAD, they asked: “So you’re paying for this lunch with money from the donors, from your administration fees, right?” HEWAD’s executive director replied, “No, in fact we take no money from this project.” The officials were shocked. “Why not? Why would you work with them then?” HEWAD’s team explained the depth of the long-term relationship they have with us, with MEPO, and that they do this for the orphans and for the children and the society. At this the officials were quiet.
HEWAD’s confidence and openness, which the GoF team also shares, changed everything.
What About the Budget?
This expanded work does entail an increase in the budget for the Garden of Flowers – $3500 per month (about $42,000/year), up from $3000 per month. This increase will enable us to reach more families and children. (One staff member has taken a reduction in pay to help out, and we found other ways to streamline in order to keep the budget reasonable.)
In addition, on top of the formal budget, MEPO has always had emergency cash funds available to be able to help people meet urgent needs such as medical treatment, clothing, household needs like wood or heaters, and food. The team has been using this direct approach all along; it is what enables us to be flexible and immediately responsive to people without any bureaucratic delays. This fund is $3000-4000/year, and more is always needed.)
A very important point: Operationally, in terms of funds management, nothing has changed. HEWAD continues to provide administration and management for no fee, as they have for the past 25 years. And while we are now officially approved by the government, the government has absolutely no involvement with our finances. No money goes to or through the government at all. Thus as always, 100% of donations go to the recipients and the operations of the GoF.
One last word. Even though the absolute numbers of families and children receiving assistance are small in light of the massive need, at MEPO we know and believe that every single one matters. 
What’s Next?
- The work is underway! A couple weeks ago, the GoF team excitedly reopened its doors to the youngest children who had been attending previously. The team is slowly bringing in more children who have been identified as vulnerable, and will be building up the community of children to the goal of 30-35, and perhaps even more.
Click here to read stories about ten of these children, as recorded by Fatima.
- A system for identifying older children and creating the schedule for their program in the GoF is currently being worked out by the team and the program should be full soon. Several older children have already joined.
- Over 25 families have already been given financial support and the team will be scaling up to 30-35 families per month.
We’ll Keep You Posted!
We promise not to keep you hanging, and will update you again soon on the progress of the expanded work of the GoF.
In the meantime, Fatima is resuming her lively Facebook and Instagram posts, which are a great way to keep up with pictures and stories.
We’ll also be working on updating our website as well.
In upcoming newsletters we’ll be highlighting the incredible GoF staff, and share more stories of children and their families.
But for now, we would like to first express our great and deep appreciation for all those who have been supporting the existence of the Garden of Flowers through regular, timely, and generous donations. Only thanks to you have we been able to maintain this work. The work of MEPO in Afghanistan has been continuous for the past 25 years, and we are fully committed.
We will continue to need support and donations, especially now, so we hope you’ll join in if you haven’t already.
And please pass this news on to anyone you feel might be interested in our collective effort to offer connection and relief to vulnerable children and their families in Afghanistan.
Always grateful to you,
Allison, Mostafa and the MEPO/Garden of Flowers Team
“Children are not merely future adults.
They are members of humanity in the present.”
