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March 22, 2010
The new year approaches in Afghanistan. I am about to board a plane with a one-way ticket in hand. Before I go I feel I must describe the events of last evening at the Kennedy Center in Washinton, D.C.
Six women were honored with a Vital Voices award before a gathering that included dignitaries, ambassadors, businesswomen and celebrities. High profile folks included Hillary Clinton, Melinda Gates, Nicholas Kristof, Sally Field, Reese Witherspoon, and Brian Williams. The awardees are extraordinary women from Brazil, Bahrain, Pakistan, America, Kenya and Afghanistan. Go to this web site to learn about each of these inspirational game changers in the world.
http://vitalvoices.org/awards2010
The young woman from Afghanistan is none other than Andeisha Farid, founder and Director of AFCECO orphanages.
Many times during the evening I tried to remember where the orphanage was a year ago, and how far away such attention seemed. It is important, of course, to remember what is real. Accolades and awards and smiling admirers are only real in the moment. Sometimes these things lead to avenues of further support, but oftentimes it is about celebration of spirit. Then it is back to work. I found it most interesting when Andeisha informed the audience there are 1.6 million orphans in Afghanistan a spontaneous gasp rose up. This was not out of empathy, but from a place of surprise. How, after all the attention placed on Afghanistan, could anyone not know this simple fact of life in Afghanistan? That is why Omprakash is such an important venue, not only to connect people, but to inform ourselves and others around the world from a place that counts: the ground beneath our feet.
The evening was supremely beautiful. Seeing those women on stage who for all their lives have been changing their world in perceived isolation, and then seeing them united, hand in hand, soaking the affection and appreciation and admiration of the big time shakers and movers was truly miraculous.
That is what you are doing. You are not alone, nor is your work small or even remotely insignificant.
Tashakur.
I will write you next from an orphanage in Kabul, where the children await my return to the classroom, to the porch with chi, to their amazingly loving arms.
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