The History Behind Kids4AfghanKids 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, a bakery / kitchen, a guest house and community well for the residents of Wonkhai Valley, a mountainous area 3 hours southwest of Kabul. The school opened in March 2001 with six teachers and 465 students in first through sixth grade. It now has 650 students and sixteen teachers. The desire for education is so strong that many of the children walk over 4 hours each way to get to and from the school. Currently, 40 orphans live at the school. Due to cultural norms, boys and girls attend separately. Plans are underway to construct a separate all-girl school. While the idea for the school originated in the U.S., it was developed within a context of honor and respect for the complex cultural, religious, economic and social constructs of the valley. The idea of the school was first presented to the village elders for consideration. In addition to their unanimous support, they donated ten acres of land towards its construction. Construction workers -- all residents of the valley -- lived in tents on the land for years to build the school. Many construction materials, such as mortar, were made on-site. A deep well (132 meters) was dug to provide water for mixing the mortar. However, because all of the villagers&Mac226; wells are dry due to the severe drought, this well was constructed as a well for the entire village. Because of severe malnutrition, a bakery was built adjacent to the school to provide bread and suggi for the children. During a site visit to Afghanistan in June 2002, we were able to determine through our survey that approximately 98% of the children in the valley are malnourished. Finally, because of the severely compromised health status of the children and their families, a health clinic was also constructed as part of the school complex. Kids 4 Afghan Kids utilizes a unique blend of contemporary technology and local control to oversee the project. The U.S. project director "meets" three times a week via cell phone with the Afghani project director and the school&Mac226;s leadership. All decisions regarding the school, such as curriculum and daily schedules, are made by the teachers in collaboration with the U.S. and Afghani project directors and the village elders.