Global Roots Mission  - Afghanistan

• Locations: Kabul, Goldara, Faizabad, Baharak (Badakshan)
• Complexity: High
• Funding Level: Medium - the Children and Heroes need our help
• Duration: Started in 2009, on-going support
• For more information: Email the mission supervisor
• Learn about Global Roots Service Corps
• Previous Missions: Global Roots goes to Afghanistan

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• More images of this mission here.
• Contact us on how to get involved.

• Day 0 - Shanghai
• Day 1 - From seedy Dubai to dusty Kabul
• Day 3 - Goldara: Books, books and more books
• Day 5 - Allowuddin orphanage
• Day 6 - Ignorance is the enemy
• Day 7 - Badakshan preparation
• Day 9 - Badakshan, Maimai, Baharak
• Day 10 - Maimai, Baharak
• Day 11 - (Final day) Goldara
• Next steps and personal thoughts

Shanghai, May 10, 2010 (Day -1)

Final stages of preparation for the second service and supply mission to Afghanistan. Throughout last month, Rick, Saeed, USAF Colonel Holm, and Afghan generals prepared the mission logistics and objectives. Rick secured the support of Greg Mortenson (Central Asia Institute), seeking points of contact in the middle and eastern areas of the country.

Traveling within Afghanistan is not straightforward, let alone coordinating humanitarian missions in remote areas of a country in conflict.
 

First Goal:
The orphanage in Kabul lost all energy supplies. The children have no electricity for heating, lighting, cooking, and studying. Global Roots will work with the local contractors and USAF to rebuild the electric supply lines.

Second Goal: 
Global Roots will deliver school supplies and various utilities to an orphanage in the eastern city of Badakshan, along with an assessment visit to a school in Faizabad.

Stretch Goal: 
Global Roots wants to grow momentum on solar cooker adoption. Local heroes (among them, Colonel French) has already made an amazing impact. During this mission, we will investigate on how we can join hands with the local heroes to promote Green cooking.

Paramount Goals:
1) Ensure continuity/sustainability of Global Roots' contributions in Afghanistan: It is essential that we maintain connections with the Afghan leadership (generals) and local heroes (USAF leadership, Saeed, orphanage caregivers). This partnership sets grounds for future missions.

2) Fight for the children: Rick unveiled and quickly addressed an unfortunate case of funds diversion in a local orphanage where the children did not fully benefit from the charitable donations. Global Roots will continue to monitor and put check-and-balance in place to ensure the funds are being spent on improving the children's  health and living conditions.

Kabul, May 13, 2010 (Day 1) - From Dubai to dusty Kabul

It was when people started to party that I left for the airport. I had no idea Dubai's night life was so intense. Luckily, there was no visa backlog and I had to stay for only 24 hours!

I found a 737 in worst condition than the planes I frequently take to Cambodia from Shanghai. Safi Airways is certainly no "boutique airline", but it does the job, cheaply and with many smiles.

Kabul emerged at dawn, through the plane's window, surrounded by coarse mountains and patches of greenery. It is a flat, brown town with a serpentine river running through it. Civil airport, army, and UN choppers share the tarmac, early reminder that I was entering a war zone. The NATO base, situated across from the civil airport, is home to 1,500 people of diverse nationalities.

I was well settled in a single room, with shared facilities. Ten minutes away are the food hall, gym, Pizza Hut, and a small junk market (where I practiced my Farsi while buying a SIM card). I was cleared by security and granted an unescorted badge. I could now freely roam around the base.

Colonel Holm and Saeed left early for a last minute mission. I spent the morning meeting some of Colonel Holm's colleagues and friends. Later in the afternoon, sirens screamed for emergency cover. "Everyone inside!", shouted the loudspeakers. Within minutes, the base turned into a ghost town with MVs crawling the streets... and I found my way back to my room. It was an exercise, another reminder that Taliban fighters sometimes randomly shot rockets at the airport. They never succeeded in hitting buildings, as they are known to be rather bad at aiming...

Colonel Holm returned from his Jalalabad mission just in time for dinner. A full day of flying troupes and being shot at stimulated an appetite. Tomorrow, we will start our plan of coordinating with the electrician and scoping trips to the orphanages in Kabul and in the north. We will also meet a woman in charge of the women's condition in Kabul. We hope this will result in a visit to a women's learning center in a nearby province where we will learn how we can help. 

Last week, I was at the Shanghai Expo, browsing through pavilions of artwork showcased by dozens of nations. Today I met many of the countrymen from these nations, except they were in uniform and fully gunned, some of them dragging their feet under the heavy sun. When we informed them of our purpose, they all had the same reaction: "THIS is the way to solve this war. Let us know how to help. Thank you!". This clear message firmed up what Rick Montgomery, Greg Mortenson and many defense generals had stated: "Protecting and educating the children is the long term solution to fanaticism." .

I leave you with these thoughts until my next update.
 

Kabul, May 15, 2010 (Day 3) - Books, Books, and more Books

Today’s priority was to assess the needs of a middle school in the village of Guldara, the birthplace of General Assadulah (Afghan Army Air Corps). It was my first day outside the base and Colonel Holm’s first time in civilian clothing. In fact, we both wore Afghan hats, shalvars (a.k.a. male pajamas), and bullet proof vests, covered with a large Afghan scarf. It was my first time wearing a cast iron 10 kilograms bulletproof vest.

We were inconspicuous... at least we did our best to blend in. 

Guldara (the valley of flowers in Dari) is 15 kilometers northwest of Kabul, in a safe area near an army base. The general, in civilian uniform, drove us in his private car and zipped through controls (thanks to his army license plates). When we arrived at the school, we were greeted by the children, teachers, and officials. There are 600 boys and 150 girls between ages 12 and 15, attending two different schools. We were positively surprised by the students' high level of intelligence.

Speaking in decent English, a few inquired about our careers and looked for advice for their own.

We listened to the teachers and children as they urgently requested for Dari, Pashtun, or English books, books, and more books. Other needs include additional classrooms or tents, desks, and chairs.

Cost of education in Afghanistan (Kabul prices for mid-quality photocopied booklets):

• grade 1 to 3 set of books costs $4,
• grade 4 to 6 grade costs $5,
• a set of grade 7 to 9 set of 14 books costs $7.

This puts each book at around $.50.

We are now in  the process of organizing a mission to source the books and bookshelves. Colonel Holm has located a landing pad nearby, and Colonel Assadulah has offered to supply  a truck to shuttle the goods to the school. More updates to come!

Global Roots will purchase and  donate $1,000 worth of school books, grade 1 to 9. We will deliver these on day 9, directly to the primary school. LTC Holm will help with a helicopter to deliver these directly at the school.

Allowuddin orphanage is a few kilometers west of Kabul. Rick Montgomery visited here Feb. 2010 and made a commitment that Global Roots will help the children in one way or another.

One month later, the power line to the orphanage broke because of near ay road works. No more electricity in the entire facility. No more heating or lights.

Rick immediately planned a mission... and here we are, seven USAF staff and I, in a super secure convoy of armored vehicles, in route for the orphanage for a damage assessment.

CDR Baker and his team arranged a convoy to the orphanage. The armored cars are super safe, equipped with bullet/rocket-proof doors and windows, jamers, radios and other top high-tech equipment. There is an incredible amount of intel gathered prior to the departure: threats, risks, itineraries,... all is carefully reviewed to ensure maximum safety.

Nonetheless, heads were turning when we crossed the city. This is a war zone, and everyone is alert. So alert in fact that we were stopped at the exit gate as a guard saw my video camera and thought I was filming the gate....incident cleared by a security contractor.

During the one hour drive, constant scrutiny of the surroundings and threat assessment... and the jamers prevented our cell phones (and that of everyone around) to function...

Suicide bombers explode themselves regularly in Afghanistan. Once a month at least. Although ISAF has lots of intel, the patterns are random. Today there was one explosion targeting US vehicles. 

"This is a serious fire hazard" Baker says, pointing to the main connection board. The energy arrives here and is dispatched. Cables are hanging to the ceiling by ropes, fuses are replaced by metal wires, cables are naked, lying on the ground. Major threat for fire and child safety.

We concluded that we needed to re-assess the entire electric installation. A local contractor will help the outside wiring, from the power bridge to the main board. CDR Baker and his team will rebuild the connections inside the orphanage. Global Roots takes care of all equipment and contractor costs, USAF generously takes care of the rebuilding of the connections inside the orphanage.

"Look a me in the eyes." Said CDR Baker to the electrician of the house, "We will teach you how to maintain the electric boards, but we I don't want you to leave afterwards and go work somewhere else.", making sure the place would not fall apart after our intervention. "No problem, I have been here 17 years and will continue to take care of the place, with more knowledge", he replied confidently.

While the assessment took place, Major Natasja Pronk-Thoen (Dutch forces in ISAF), responsible for Gender affairs and women condition proceeded in donations. Crayons, pens, notebooks,... children were extatic and wanted more, and she will be back with more!

The Allowuddin orphanage is the first significant project we have in Afghanistan. To understand the culture, the dynamics of relationships, business, safety, corruption and other matters to be aware of, we decided to start with a project of medium complexity.

In a few days we will fly to Faizabad, in the Badakshan area. This area is remote, few NGOs venture there, in a place where help is much needed. This is where the largest difference can be made, with the limited resources have harvested and can apply.

A few seconds after she received her generous gift, this girl started to draw a flower ("gol" in Dari). Let us wish that she will continue her education, rise from her unfortunate situation and able to chose her future.

Kabul, May 18, 2010 (Day 6) - "Ignorance is the enemy"

A suicide bomber blew himself up right in the middle of the city, causing over 40 death and many casualties, mostly civilians. LCT Holm saw the smoke from his helicopter as he was flying back from Gardez... just 10 minutes after the explosion.

On his own initiative, Holm decided to descend and land besides the crater to rescue survivors. In the midst of the chaos, debris and body parts, he ran to rescue the wounded. What he saw besides the crater is too horrible to describe and impossible to forget, Holm managed to bring back wounded to his helicopter and flew them to the hospital.

Its hard to conceive that someone would plan a suicide mission, explode themselves, and try to kill as many people as possible in this barbaric act. At the same time, its remarkable to see someone risk their life to save wounded people, on their own initiative. This is the difference between ignorance and leadership , cowardise and courage.

Olaf and an elder, in Goldara.

Kabul, May 19, 2010 (Day 7) - Preparing Badakshan

Today was preparation day. We started by getting the CAI generator which Afghan airforce will fly to Baharak. The 500kg beast will power up a vocational school Central Asia Institute helped create.

Wakil Karimi, CAI chief operations in Afghanistan (center) came on base to meet General Assadulah, Col Madura and the whole crew. I was privileged to witness the relationships building between Wakil and Col Madura, General Assadulah and Wakil, Patrick (Global Roots) and Wakil, Wakil and LTC Holm,.... well, you get the picture. We had tea, shacked hands and embraced each other.

Tomorrow's mission will be a milestone to the collaboration between Afghanistan army forces, USAF, Central Asia Institute and Global Roots.

This mission will also extend to the north of the country for delivering deceased martyrs to their families.

Note that we will be away from any internet connection for 3 days!

Left to right: Patrick, General Assadulah, Wakil, LTC Holm (Olaf), Pete, Saeed.

The General's handshake

Badakshan, May 21, 2010 (Day 9) - Faizabad and Maimai

Faizabad is the main city in the Badakshan province. This area is peaceful with very few to no militant action, a breathtaking variety of landscapes, a rich culture.

It is a region much in need for support due to its remoteness and poor roads. The government has neglected this area in the past, but now, with the help of USAF and ANAC (Afghan National Air Corps), LTC Holm, Col Rice and their crew did multiple deliveries in very isolated areas such as Maimai and Baharak.

At first, the generator CAI gave us yesterday was delivered in Baharak. We had a wonderful lunch with the local CAI staff and the chief of security.

Amazing hospitality, with children singing and speeches and prayers form elders.

Listen here to the Baharak speech from LTC Olaf Holm:

After lunch, greetings and discussions, we headed back to Faizabad where another 4 tons of books were waiting for a delivery to Maimai, at the very top tip of Afghanistan. Two helicopters were refueled and reloaded for the 1 hour trip.

Maimai has a very small school with basic classrooms: boys have tents, girls learn outside, no roof. You can imagine the conditions in winter: no-one can attend school!

Children I met were very keen to exchange a few words (girls are always shy/reserved). I believe the books delivered here by the Afghan government will greatly help. According to a local, Maimai is source for the smartest folks in Afghanistan, some ending in high-ranked positions in Kabul.

Badakshan, May 22, 2010 (Day 10) - Maimai(again) and Baharak (again)

We spent the night in the Faizabad camp, managed my German forces. Comfortable settings, sharing the tents with Mongols in charge of camp security.

Yesterday in the Faizabad airport, we left our Global Roots shipment of books, pencils and notebooks so we could load up more people in the helicopters. Today, we picked these up for delivery to Baharak. We originally planned to deliver those to a school in Faizabad but logistics did not allow so: Friday (jom'he) is rest day for students and teachers. No transportation to the school, and no children to witness receiving the donations. We put a particular emphasis on the building a relationship with the people we help, and build trust with time, until we can confidently leave the donations in the hands of our partner.

In the case of Faizabad school, we could not meet the children, the teacher, the school attendant, and would have left all the donations to the person picking it up. We were not doubting the words of the sub Faizabad sub-governor, but preferred to wait for a better time.

We will come back to Faizabad and visit that school, meet the children, teachers, school attendant.

After picking up the donations, we headed to Baharak, a short 10 mns heli flight from Faizabad.

Jan Agha greeted us on the landing field. We had only an hour, squeezed between the Ma imam trip and the return to Kabul. Olaf received alarming weather news on the earlier, from the German meteo folks at Faizabad: thunderstorms were building up on Kabul! Another sleeping bag night was in perspective!

To achieve our goals (deliver the books and donations in hand, get the crew fed and rested), we divided up: the crew went for a quick lunch while Jan Agha, Olaf, Peter and I went to the school to deliver the schoolbooks and donations from families of USAF air corps to children of Afghanistan.

Olaf delivered the Star of Markab to Jan Agha (per Mortenson's request), having it printed and placed right on the nose of the MI17.

See this short video on the books and stationary delivery.

Special thanks to Wakil Karimi (CAI) for helping us get schoolbooks and stationery at best quality and best price, and deliver at the ISAF gates!

Goldara, May 23, 2010 (Final day) - School book delivery

We barely made it back to Kabul.

Upon leaving Baharak, meteo gave us warnings of thunderstorms building up over Kabul. MI17s are not equipped for bad weather or night flights (VFR only), therefore limiting options. Col Holm and the weather team managed to find a safe route by returning to Kabul via Qonduz for refueling and then Bamian. We reached Kabul at dusk, with thunder striking in the mountains.... it was a very tight and sometimes shaky return trip. I was glad Olaf and Col Rice are among the best heli pilots around!

We had planned to deliver USAF and Global Root's donations to Goldar by heli, however, given weather conditions, Olaf called the flight off. It was not safe to get in the air with menacing clouds and weather reports of thunderstorms. Instead, we took a ranger pickup from ANAC and loaded it up with our books.

General Assadulah and Col Madura joined us. It was Col Madura's first time outside ISAF base, let alone in an Afghan school.

Upon delivery of the school books, everyone said a few words and we proceeded to lunch. General Assadulah treated us to sweet watermelons, sitting on an Afghan carpet, under the trees.

See this short video on the books and stationary delivery.

Watermelon under the berry trees... what a perfect way to finish this mission!

Next steps and personal thoughts

This mission may give you just a glimpse of the situation in Afghanistan. A country ripped apart by war - tribal wars, invasions, coalition forces, monthly suicide attacks,.. I wish it also gave you a glimpse of the beauty in people and places.

This is our second mission, building up on the relationships we created in Feb 2010 with Afghan and US leadership, and continuing the work in Allowuddin orphanage.

• we are working with local contractors on fixing the orphanage's energy supply. Today, its failing when it rains, children can easily electrocute, the entire place can catch fire. CDR Baker kindly offered t have his crew help the wiring. Now, we are looking for the best prices, and in Kabul, copper cables are expensive.
• We are continuing our work with solar cookers. We believe we can make a difference in people's life with these cheap substitutes to wood and kerosene. We recently started a pilot in Cambodia and are deploying this in Kenya to large communities.
• We are looking to hire someone locally, to help us maintain momentum, and travel to where help is the most needed.

This is just the beginning. As we operate in Africa, China and Cambodia, there are much tools and projects to adapt and leverage across these places.

I will not share my views on presence of coalition forces in Afghanistan. I just read that over 1000 US soldiers were killed so far. was part of (one of many) heli mission to deliver coffins to remote villages: Martyrs of war. When we flew over the village, I could see women and elders raising their hands in dispear, then bring them to their chest: "Allah-o-akbar. Our Son is back." I cannot imagine the suffering and anger of the families, wherever they are and whatever their belief is.

I speak some Persian, a close cousin of Dari. I could listen, dialog with people which made this trip very effective. I was able to get out of the ISAF base a few times, only for short periods, in military convoy or in a Toyota Corolla. I felt safe in the Corolla. I was stopped at a checkpoint and was asked to format all media in my cameras, as the guard said he saw me taking photos. Downtown, I was taking a photo and did not realize a government office was nearby... a guard rushed on me, I managed to get away with Saeed's help... but I saw the moment where he would bring me in for questioning and break my camera on the ground. There was a suicide bombing on the same exact road we took to the orphanage, 24 hours later. It could easily have been us, should our mission be delayed one day.

Global Roots made a difference to the lives of the orphans of Allowuddin ophanage, school children in Goldara and Baharak. This might seem small in comparison to what large NGOs can achieve, but in percentage of our donations dollars and time, it is huge. All of us take the time from our personal vacations for these missions, then return to our full-time jobs.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who made this mission possible and bear with me these 12 days (and I am sure I am forgetting a few names, forgive me):

• Olaf, LTC Holm, who made these missons possible by bridging with the Afghan air forces. His achievements are too many to enumerate. I witnessed how passionate he is with doing the right thing, and how he risks his life daily to save lives.
• Col Madura, who took the time (and risk) to join us for our Goldara book supply mission and gracefully agreed these missions to take place.
• CRD Baker who kindly offered to rewire the inside electric circuit of the Allowuddin orphanage
• Saeed Sarmed, who helped purchase books and dragged me around the city on his free time, and keeps help us coordinate missions
• Latif Jawad (Saeed's cousin) who helped get quotes from electricians
• General Assaudullah and General Barat, who kindly let us use their helicopters and crew
• William Wood, Dennis Capron, Dawn, Elizabeth and the crew at the office, who helped me get situated
• Eric from the French heli medevac team, who helped fix my broken camera wiring
• Aziz, Alex, Waheed, Davood and all the translators at the base who gave me so much insight on their countr.
• Major Natasja Pronk-Thoen (Dutch forces in ISAF) for reaching to help future missions to improve women condition
• Greg Mortenson, who gave us insight on Afghan culture and offered his staff's assisance fort our Badakshan mission
• Wakil (CAI) who helped me get top quality schoolbook, at the best price, and delivered on base!
• Jan Agha and Wohid Khan, who greeted us in Baharak, took care of our security, and organized fabulous meals
• and finally Rick Montgomery, who selflessly started Global Roots and was the first to visit Afghanistan in Feb 2010. Putting his life (and his family) at risk. He was not only helping children, but took part of rescue missions lead by LTC Holm and his team.

Thank you!