Resources

Documents April 19, 2006 The Shirabad “Friendship School” has been officially open April 18, 2006 A Little Help from our Orphan Friends July 1, 2005 Sharibad "Friendship School" Update March 25, 2005 Cinderella Orphan In Afghanistan March 17, 2005 Friendship School Project Proposal   Galleries A Land of War Distribution of Clothing/Shoes and Medical Supplies Lou Felo in Afghanistan School Project The Children The Orphans of Mazar-i-Sharif The Plight of Women Women's Literacy School   Video School Project Presentation   Link Partnership in Academic Development

"The Friendship School"

A partnership proposal for the construction of a school developed by the villagers of Shirabad, Afghanistan, and Beyond Tears Worldwide, Inc.

According to The Herald Tribune, dated December 28, 2004, “Eighty percent of Afghanistan’s 7,000 schools were damaged or destroyed, and 3,400 schools are still waiting to be rebuilt. Afghanistan needs another 8,000 schools on top of that… ‘Even if you have the funding and the international commitment, that is going to take another eight to nine years,’ Unicef’s senior program coordinator said. ‘Can you tell a child who is 5 now to wait eight years before he gets to go to school?’”

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"The Friendship School"

In the village of Shirabad in the northwest of Afghanistan there are 2600 families with over 900 school age children. These children, boys and girls, are now attending school after years of warfare and deprivation. The boys attend in the cool of the morning and the girls in the afternoon. They go in shifts because there is no building to go to. Tents provide the only shelter from the harsh weather, be it the heat of the sun, gusty winds, or the bitter cold of winter. They sit on the floor crowded together in quiet concentration studying and learning.

The goal of "The Friendship School" project is to construct a school building complete with classrooms, tables, chairs, electric lighting, water and sanitary facilities, providing these children with a better place to learn.

This project is one of several that are building a long-term relationship with the families of Shirabad and Beyond Tears Worldwide, Inc. (BTW). Using land provided by the village, local planning, labor and construction, the project not only provides a school, but jobs for the adults of the village as well.

Once completed the school is then owned and maintained by the village leaders. The Afghan government currently provides 9 teachers for the 900 children of the village, and they will continue to do so when the school is built.

Project Description

The school, though simple by modern standards, would be a great step forward for the village. The school will have 12 classrooms that will hold 30 students each, and two teacher offices shared by 9 teachers. A total of 360 students can attend at any given time. Classes will be taught in shifts during the day so that every child receives his or her education.

Each classroom will have a teacher desk and chair, 30 student desks/benches, and a blackboard. In addition, initial school supplies and a plan for ongoing provision of these supplies will be made to ensure the future success of the school.

Constructed of stone and fired brick, the school will have a poured concrete floor with tile covering, glass windows that open and shut, doors and window trims of wood, a brick convex roof with rubberized covering, and electric heat. Sanitation facilities will be constructed by UNICEF outside of the school building.

For a detailed description of the project proposal and budgeted construction items click the following link.

Beyond Tears Worldwide, Inc.

100% of the monies contributed to Beyond Tears Worldwide goes directly to The Friendship School project and are tax deductible in the United States. Beyond Tears Worldwide, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit human service organization registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service. The address of BTW in the United States is: Beyond Tears Worldwide, Inc., 41 Lakeside Boulevard, Hopatcong, NJ. In Afghanistan, Beyond Tears Worldwide works in partnership with PAD (Partnership in Academics and Development), an organization that establishes community centers where NGO's may coordinate their efforts with other NGO's and the Afghan government. This helps eliminate duplication of services and ensures priority needs are being met. Part of the center's long-term plan is to build the capacities of Afghans through education.

"The Friendship School" Project

Contribution/Sponsorship Information

The children and families of Shirabad thank you for your support.

The Friendship Schools toilets have completed in October of 2004. They were provided as a gift by UNICEF.

Christianne Felo is BTW’s fulltime project manager over seeing the project in its entirety. BTW has hired a construction engineer/construction manager who will bid out the project to local foremen, skilled and unskilled labors from the village and secure construction material from the surrounding region.

The land has been granted to the Afghan Department of Education and permits for construction have been granted by the departments of education and urban-environmental development.

Construction will begin as soon as funding has been secured.