Feeling adventuresome? Join me on a
trip with Global Exchange to Afghanistan in March.
The dates are March 05, 2006 - March 14, 2006. Yes, I'm serious. I'm going. Learn more about the trip, how you can join us, or support the venture.
The official program will focus on women and the improvement of their lives to date in Afghanistan. I'm also trying to plan a side trip to Kandahar to see my son.
Here are some of the highlights of the trip in Kabul:
Day One: Greetings at Kabul International Airport Afghans4Tomorrow
Guesthouse and orientation
Day Two: United Nations Mine Action
Red Cross Rehabilitation Clinic for Mine Victims
Visit of King Babur Garden
Day Three: Visit of King Nader Shah's tomb
Visit of Darulaman Palace
View of Kabul from Intercontinental Hotel
Chicken Street
Day Four: Visit of Afghanistan Aid girl school
Visit of Afghanistan's spiritual leader
Visit of Afghan Commission for Human Rights
Day Five: Visit of Women for Women International
Visit of W.O.M.A.N literacy program
Omar Mine Museum
Visit of the National Art Gallery
Ashiana Afghan traditional music
Day Six: Ministry of Women's Affairs
Visit of PARSA: Afghan Widow Project
Visit of PARSA's gift shop (proceeds go to widow's families)
Day Seven: Visit of Kabul University
Visit female Human Right Activist
Visit of the National Archives
Day Eight: Visit of Kabul prison: female detention center OR RAWA's prostitute rehabilitation project
Visit the National Democratic Institute
Visit of Ashiana (Afghan Street Children Project)
Visit of Ashiana Art Gallery
Day Nine: Rabia Balkhi women hospital
Visit with female judge, Ministry of Women's Affairs Alaudin orphanage
Day Ten: Day trip to Wardak: Visit of A4T's school under construction
Costs:
- $1700 for this 10-day program inside Afghanistan
- RT airfare to Kabul ($1200 to $2000)
- 2 days hotel stay in Dubai ($400)(stopover each way)
- Misc. fees, expenses, meals ($500)
Total expense - $3800 - $4600 per person
I'm figuring on an additional $750 to get to Kandahar and back.
If you want to find out more about going on the trip, click here to go to the Global Exchange website.
Don't feel THAT adventuresome, but want to hear and see all about the trip via live blogging, photos, and a video DVD? Want to show my husband that I'm NOT insane for wanting to do this? Need a tax deduction before the end of the year?
Cut and paste, then print the following:
I will make a tax-deductible contribution of: ❒ $35 ❒ $50 ❒ $100 ❒ Other $
_____
to the Global Exchange Reality Tours Scholarship Fund in honor of (Participant Name)
____________________
Reality Tour (location and date):_________________
Please make checks out to Global Exchange and return along with this pledge form.
Contributions are tax-deductible (in the U.S.) in accordance with section 501c(3) of IRS code. (Exemption 94-3066686)
Mail the pledge form and checks and/or money orders to the
Global Exchange office:
Attn: Tours Coordinator
Global Exchange
2017 Mission St., #303
San Francisco, CA 94110
BE SURE TO PUT MY NAME ON THE MEMO SECTION OF THE CHECK. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!
E-mail me with your contact info and I will send you a free DVD of the trip when I return. Also, PLEASE let me know if there are any questions that you have or would like to ask to Afghanis if you could go, and I will do my best to get these answers for you. I'm going to Afghanistan for the final piece of my dissertation research, so I'll be asking lots of questions of everyone that I encounter anyway. :)