NATO in Afghanistan - New Director makes rapid improvements to Afghan orphanages

New Director makes rapid improvements to Afghan orphanages

29-year old Sayed Abdullah Hashemi, an orphan himself, has taken over the Director of Orphanages position in Afghanistan's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. In just 7 months he has dramatically turned around conditions in large Kabul orphanages and is now trying to bring better conditions to all of Afghanistan.

Hashimi explains his commitment to his work: "When I was six months old my father and then my mother died. Growing up was difficult and early on I had the desire to help people who faced difficulties, wherever they are," he says.

Hashemi introduced himself to the Afghan orphanage system with unannounced visits - audits - that left some corrupt employees in jail and others running to resign when gross corruption and negligence turned out to be the norm. Now though, the kids have hot water, warm clothes, nutritious meals, computers and an array of new classes, playgrounds....the list goes on and on.

Better conditions for orphans

One girl in the 10th grade says, "Now we have computer courses and English lessons, we didn't have this before. Now we have everything".

Hashemi credits the minister and the orphanage employees with "working 24 hours a day" to make the changes. One head of a Kabul orphanage said that since Hashemi has taken charge the orphanage employees are more active.

But the daunting job ahead is to bring the same relief and improvement to orphans all over the country. Hashemi and his department are initiating legislation in parliament to standardise conditions all over the country but in the short-term he will continue to carry out impromptu audits at orphanages across Afghanistan.

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_82650.htm

Category:

News & Politics

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• in
• Afghanistan
• orphanage
• orhpans
• director
• Afghans
• Sayed Abdullah Hashemi
• Jeff Holden
• natochannel

[UNJUSTIFICATION1]

Great work.. i really admire such a person that takes on such challenges of corruption.. Good man , God bless his soul and God bless all the people that are helping the helpless people in this world..

[CatpurrRobertaBobbi]

The West gets to see these children of war. Its also not done in secret like the videos of the ones in China etc. If its real and he can help them live and if hate is not taught and girls are allowed to learn trades and be free then this is amazing.

[Mortaza94]

God bless this man and god bless Afghanistan.

[akindofsolidary]

Thank you very much for this video also

[noelsoong777]

May these children find good parents. Maybe Angelina Jolie or perhaps Madonna? <that was a joke.