STORIES AND IDEAS

Afghan Children School Supplies Campaign-
AED Launches The BluePack Project

The Academy for Educational Development, one of the world’s foremost international development organizations, is mounting a campaign to raise $2 million to provide 200,000 BluePacks, backpacks filled with basic school and hygiene supplies and a few toys, to Afghan children. A portion of each donation will go to help rebuild Afghanistan’s education system through teacher training. Each BluePack costs $10 and 100% of each donation will go directly to the project. For information on The BluePack Project visit www.bluepack.org.

The BluePacks will include pencils, notebooks, ink, traditional bamboo pens, and wooden “takhti” writing boards. They will also contain soap, brushes, combs, balls, and jump ropes. The materials and backpacks will be produced by Afghanistan’s war widows to provide employment opportunities for the women.

“Many of these children that will receive the backpacks have never been to school or even owned a pencil,” said Stephen F. Moseley, AED president and chief executive officer. “The BluePack Project shows them the world supports their desire to get an education.”

In March 2002, AED distributed 40,000 educational backpacks to Afghan children living in refugee camps in Pakistan. The Afghan Embassy asked if we could expand these efforts, and The BluePack Project was launched.

Leading national and regional U.S. education associations have partnered with AED for The BluePack Project, including American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, and New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Colleges and universities are raising funds for the project by launching creative campaigns to encourage student involvement. For example, Anna Maria College is implementing a “Skip a Meal” program in which students sign up to skip one or more meals with proceeds going to buy BluePacks. The College of the Holy Cross is creating a bookstore fundraising plan and display for student donations. Norwich University is planning to create a campaign with a local high school, and Endicott College has set a fundraising goal of $10,000 to purchase BluePacks.

Founded in 1961, AED is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to solving critical social problems. They operate more than 250 programs to help individuals and communities improve their education, health, environment, youth and leadership development, and economic opportunities in 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states. AED has been reforming and improving educational systems worldwide for more than 30 years, and has extensive experience working in Afghanistan.