Soraya Ahmadyar

My father always instilled this idea of always pursuing knowledge by going to school & getting a college degree since as far back as I can remember. Islam also reinforces the notion that it is an obligation on both men & women to pursue knowledge throughout your life. This combination has helped shape my life decisions in ways I never knew it could. I, like so many others, take for granted the fact that education is so easily obtainable in America. We find it hard to understand the struggles & obstacles that people in third-world countries go through just so they can learn how to read & write let alone go to college. While some of us consider education a burden, others around the world consider it as a luxury of life. Even today, I still find it hard to believe that the resources available are not used to provide such basic education to the communities around the world.
So, I took on the challenge of giving back & where better to start than the country of my parents. Unfortunately, Afghanistan is devastated by the state of ignorance that it has been plagued with as a result of decades of violence, war, & tyranny. But there is still hope there; you can see it in the eyes of the people, you can hear it in the stories they share, & you can feel it in their voices. Afghans want to be free & at peace. I strongly believe that the only way to fulfill this dream of peace in Afghanistan is through education of the masses. Victory cannot be achieved any other way. This is the foundation that C.A.H.P. was established on & what it will continue to build on. It’s time that we learn to put down our military weapons & help people pick up a book & begin a dialogue of knowledge.
Inshallah (God willing) we can continue our efforts which would not be possible without the help of our volunteers & the support of our communities, both Afghan & non-Afghan. Inshallah one day Afghanistan will be a peaceful nation in which the children do not have to suffer or be afraid for their lives & most importantly, these kids will not fear attending school. Worrying about mines, open gun fire, or blanket bombing attacks will no longer prevent them from wanting to attend school.