-Still Standing By Afghanistan (Fall 2023 Newsletter)-

The Work of a Lifetime:

MEPO Provides Support to Former Children of the House of Flowers

Sometimes even work that seems finished has not really ended. MEPO began its Montessori work with children in Kabul over twenty years ago at its original House of Flowers and although the House closed in 2020, the work continues: three of the youngsters who grew up there – Nadia, Zaki and Obaid – have been struggling to survive in the dire, cut-throat economic environment of Kabul. MEPO has stepped in to help.

All three of these young people have jobs: Zaki is on the cleaning staff of the Ministry of Education, but his government salary is so low (7000 Afs, about $80/month) that he and his wife were unable to eat properly, visibly suffering from malnutrition as seen in our video calls with them. MEPO now supplements his salary with 5000 Afs (about $55) a month for food. Nadia, the only breadwinner in her family, assists in a mental health clinic, and Obaid, who is disabled, works in an office as an assistant. MEPO arranged for their jobs and now covers Nadia’s salary of 13,000 Afs/month (about $150) and Obaid’s salary of 11,000 Afs/month (about $125).

These three salaries and the salaries of the five staff in the Garden of Flowers together support the lives of over 30 people in Kabul. This is in addition to the nutritional support and powerful Montessori education provided to nearly 30 children in the new Garden of Flowers Preschool every day. The work of life continues.

We need your support to continue this work

The media recently reported a shortfall of donations to the UN for Afghanistan. But MEPO’s work in Afghanistan has continued unabated for over 20 years. Committed MEPO donors worldwide have watched the children grow up, know the names of the staff, and also know that 100% of their donations reach those who need it the most.