Having spent more time with Orbal and Nargis, the interpreters, we’ve learned more about Madina’s life back home. We now know that she lives with 60 girls in a RAWA run orphanage (RAWA = Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Madina has a twin brother, living in another orphanage because girls and boys are separated. They have a 10 month old baby sister. Their Mom and Dad work in the orphanage as caretakers of the children. We aren’t certain they are her bio parents because she calls me Mom too.
The following information was taken from: www.rawa.org
RAWA, the oldest feminist organization of Afghanistan established in 1977, is implementing creative solutions to the legacies of war. RAWA struggles for peace, democracy, freedom and women’s rights in a nation that is continually challenged by Islamic fundamentalists, international terrorism and the drug mafia. This noble cause requires great attention the the children, who are indeed the biggest victims of this ongoing tragedy in Afghanistan. With the generous help of its supporters, RAWA opened 9 orphanages in Pakistan and Afghanistan and cares for nearly 400 children to give them love, education, shelter and parental care.
One of the criteria for selecting the children and taking them to the orphanage is their economical and social status; therefore, most of them are orphans, victims of child labor and street children forced to beg. They have been exposed to very hostile and painful environments, polluted by drug mafia, armed gangs and religious extremism. Today’s culture in Afghanistan is strongly dominated by the medieval and decaying ideology of the Islamic fundamentalism. Children are the most vulnerable to this indoctrination especially if they are alone and without guidance.
To read more about Life at the RAWA orphanages visit:
www.rawa.org/orphanages.htm
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