By Jenny | Student Volunteer
I was a third grade student in Ms. Nedam’s class in the mid-2000s. In retrospect, that period was one of the most influential phases in my life given how much it has shaped my worldview today. In that time, I learned about Afghanistan, where the life of the average eight-year-old kid dramatically differed from that of my own in Michigan. In recognizing that contrast, I was motivated to get involved in Kids 4 Afghan Kids and help in whatever way I could (which ended up being volunteering at the Victorian festival booth or selling snacks in school). Even halfway across the globe, I realized that I could do my part to make a difference in the lives of others; I also learned that they could make a difference in mine. Inspired by their perseverance and grit, I found myself speaking up on behalf of the cause. With a newfound driving mission – to provide access to education for girls in Afghanistan, a place where it was against the odds for them to even go to school – I conquered my own fear of public speaking and helped Ms. Nedam bring awareness about Kids 4 Afghan Kids to other elementary, middle, and high schools across Michigan. From third grade on, I’ve built my life around that same mission: to make the world more accessible and equitable to women just like me, wherever they might be geographically. Initiatives to support access to schooling for girls are critical to ensuring that the brilliant minds of all women around the world – and half our population – are given the opportunity to change the world and contribute to other causes. While I’m many years removed from Ms. Nedam’s class, I took many things from it that will be with me for a lifetime: the realization that each of us has the capacity to make the world a better place, a passion for women’s education initiatives, and a lifelong love for K4AK and the Afghan people who have graciously shared a part of their lives with us.
By Mr. Farid | Afghan Project Consultant
By Kathi | Parent Volunteer
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