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Welcome to Kids 4 Afghan Kids |
 In 1998, a group of 6th graders in Northville, MI decided to act. They Founded Kids 4 Afghan Kids, a Michigan-based non-profit organization whose goal is to re-establish educational facilities for boys and girls in Afghanistan and to address the desperate health conditions in which the children and their families live.
In three years, these students raised enough money under the guidance of their teacher and witnessed -- via videotapes, internet and cell phones -- the construction of a six-room school, a medical clinic, an orphanage, a bakery / kitchen, a guest house and community well for the residents of Wonkhai Valley, a mountainous area 3 hours southwest of Kabul.
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Medical Clinic Reopens July 1st, 2011 |
A medical clinic in Wardak, Afghanistan, supported by donations by Northville’s Kids for Afghan Kids (K4AK), reopened July 1, after K4AK’s successful May fundraising program.
The medical and dental clinic was established by K4AK in 2001. It closed last fall after the murder of Tom Grams, the program’s volunteer dentist from Colorado, and the cancer related death of the only village physician which left the clinic without adequate medical personnel.
Middle school students Haley Clafton, Erica Meister and Allie Pierce have lead K4AK's effort to raise $ 7,500 over the last several months by giving presentations on the project and organizing fundraising events. The girls have been involved in K4AK for four years.
“We wanted to do something to help the 1,200 students and their families,” said Allie, “without our clinic, they had no professional medical care.”
“The village needed $15,000 to hire a doctor and dentist for one year,” said Khris Nedam, Amerman third grade teacher and K4AK’s US Director, "Because of K4AK and the support of the Northville community, the clinic will now be open through December with a dentist, mid-wife, and medical doctor.”
Winchester, Amerman and Silver Springs Elementary Schools helped K4AK raise money in May by hosting fund raising projects that netted more than $2200. "(At Winchester, we) were excited to help K4AK. We wrote announcements, gave presentations to each class and sold 1,499 Smencils (scented pencils. Every little bit helps," said Allie’s brother, Winchester fourth grader Matt Pierce.
“The principals involved, as well as (now retired) Northville Public Schools Superintendent Leonard Rezmierski, have given us terrific advice and encouragement and many kids volunteered to help," said Haley.
The Northville Rotary Club presented K4AK with $1,600 in donations. “We got money from the Club, and from individual members. Their generosity was fantastic. These donations alone will support the clinic for one month,” said Erica, who accepted the checks on behalf of K4AK in June.
“Our goal now is to raise the money necessary to keep the clinic open next year,” said Haley.
Kids 4 Afghan Kids will hold fundraisers throughout the summer, and both a hoedown and silent auction in October. If you have items, services or timeshare use you would like to donate, call Lori Shaffer at 734-453-0977. For more information or to make a donation, see www.kids4afghankids.com
(Article Courtesy of The Northville Record)
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We do presentations at no fee. Tapes of our presentations will soon be available for schools outside of driving distance. |
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Amerman's Family Hoedown and Auction was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who helped out and participated! We earned over $8000 toward the health clinic. Keep tuned for our Hunger Awareness Empty Bowls fundraiser in February 2012. |
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