Afghanistan – Kabul – Kabul Blind School

Projects - Current Projects & Progress

Project Description

Kabul Blind School has been a focus of A Better World for the past 5 years since the first visit in 2004. The school has 150 children of all ages and the only blind school in Kabul. A Better World has started several small programs in the past. In 2009 ABW has arranged to test all blind children as some have low vision and others could receive improved vision after surgery. Local eye surgeon and Kabul University Professor Dr. Hosham and Kabul ABW project Manager Rosemary Stasek of “a Little Help” will manage this project. The school also lacks Braille books, supplies and musical instruments. The school also needs assistance of volunteers who are trained to teachers of blind children. See Eric’s trip blog to Afghanistan. Items needed for the school: White Canes:$9.50 each Slate: $6.50 each Stylus: $0.25 each Braille Thermoform Paper: $50/500 sheets Eye Examinations: $15 each Surgery: $500/eye
Project Start Date:	May 15, 2009	Projected Completion:	Ongoing
Project Representative:	Eric Rajah	Ph. 403-340-9681	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Project Cost:	$ 50,000
Funds Received:	$ 30,000
Balance Needed:	$ 20,000
Major Donor:	Lacombe Rotary Club
Partner Donor(s):	Al Laplante, Pat Romerman and Family

Project Updates

July, 2010

Kalista's Story (press release and link to news stories)

Canadian Military Police and Canadian Embassy Involvement

For the past three years, the Canadian Embassy has been involved in providing repairs for the vehicles, support in the kitchen, furniture for the classrooms, computers, and a braille printer.

After the ABW visit in May, Corporal Nicholas Glas, of the Canadian Military Police, has been deeply involved in improving the conditions at the Kabul Blind School. He is in regular contact with A Better World, and has collaborated with us to arrange the shipment of much needed supplies through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. DFAIT has agreed to ship the following items free of charge:150 canes, 100 slates, 200 stylus, five boxes of 500 sheets of braille thermoform paper, and a donated library of braille books in English from the W Ross Macdonald School, Ontario School for the Blind. Nicholas has made multiple visits to the Blind School, and even held a fundraiser in Kabul. As a result of his efforts, all of the five school busses are in good repair, every student has received a medical check-up from local medical doctors, and arrangements have been made for continuing medical care for the students as necessary. This is a summary of the work that Corporal Glas had accomplished while on his tour of duty in Afghanistan:

Transportation...repair of two of five busses that the schools uses to transport the students to and from school each day. Currently all five of the busses are in working condition.
Indoor Plumbing/Washrooms...with the assistance of a local plumber, Nicholas has repaired, and/or installed indoor plumbing.
Fresh Water...the Embassy’s locally engaged Electrician is able to procure an electric water pump and will install this at the school.

Medical Needs

Arrangements have been made with the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) Health Department, a Pharmacutical Company and the Afghan Government to procure vaccines and vitamin boosters for the school, as well as local Doctor's to provide the injections and regular check-ups.

Braille Equipment

In 2008, MPSS Det Kabul had purchased a Braille printer for the school which has since ceased to function. We will be paying for and have made arrangements for a local IT Technician to attend the school and repair the Braille printer.

Ken Roche

Ken Roche, of Cambridge, Ontario has worked directly with the W Ross Macdonald School to procure the donation of a library of braille books in English and has been an integral part of the communications necessary for the shipment of the needed supplies to Kabul.

June 2010:

During this site visit and needs assessment, the school’s various needs were discussed as well as the progress with the eye exams and surgeries. There are significant improvements for those who have received the surgery in one eye. Many in this group are now awaiting surgery for the other eye. The next group of students is prepared for an assessment to determine whether surgery will benefit them. We are corresponding with the Canadian Embassy to supply the needed repair for the Braille printer and the shipment of the canes and other needed supplies. Plans were made for A Better World’s future contributions to further eye examinations for the students during our visit with Dr. Hosham.

For the complete report please click here.

kabul-junereport-anisa kabul-junereport-mihrabudin

kabul-junereport-eric kabul-junereport-drhosham

September 2009: For complete list of treatment plans for each child and financial report please click here for PDF file.

May 2010

All students eyes have been tested and determination of whether surgery should be completed based on Dr. Hosham's evaluation. Eyeglasses and medications were provided for the students after they were evaluated. Special thanks to the Lacombe Rotary Club for sponsoring this project.

Summary: USD $10,473.68

Phase II - Students Surgery Total Cost: $7,778.89

Dr.Hosham Fee for Surgeries: $4,500.00

Students post operative treatment medicine: $372.55

Transport Cos: $746.81

Other indirect cost: $15.53

Najla's hours (107.2 HRs): $2,144.00

Phase III - New Students Examinations Cost: $2,694.79

Dr.Hosham Fee for eye examinations: $555.00

Medicine and glass cost for students: $190.85

Transport Costs: $510.00

Other indirect costs: $48.94

Najla's hours (69.5): $1,390.00

August 2009

Dr. Hosham from the University of Kabul has assessed all of the children at Kabul Blind School. He has sent a complete report on each child along with the treatment plan. As funds are received children will be cared for. For more information please click here for PDF file.

Dr. Hosham Dr. Hosham examining child