Hungarian Children To Collect Toys For Afghan Toddlers
Szöveg: Ferencz Soucz | 2009. április 3. 9:05According to certain data, in Afghanistan the number of children under the age of 14 reaches 44 percent of the entire population. Similarly to ISAF, the aims of the Hungarian PRT also incude the improvement of the living conditions of children. The poverty which strikes the entire country can be felt and seen everywhere – just like in those few kindergartens that exist.
The children hardly have any toys but the ones they do have cannot be used all the time, for they are afraid they might be ruined. In their environment there are only a few things that elicit stimulus, and their lives are very monotonous. Even at a very young age they have to help with the chores around the house, and children are often seen near roads as they are carrying drinking water in huge containers. If we are leaving behind the capital of the province and the constructed road, we cannot really find any kindergarten.
Unfortunately, there are places were the situation is even worse – if it can be worse at all. The country has seen a number of acts of war during its history, and due to the low average age and the fragile health care system, there are many little children who have been orphaned. They are the ones who are in the most difficult situation. The Hungarian PRT is committed to help the infants.
At the time of the first rotation of the troops, the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team had already contacted the only kindergarten in Pol-e Khomri, where the small team of teachers has to look after 70 toddlers. Last year they even asked the children to draw something for the Hungarian kindergarteners. When the drawings arrived – with the help of a colleague – the Hungarian children and their parents could see what the conditions are in Afghanistan. They did not hesitate – they began to collect.
Many toys have been collected and transported to the province by the Hungarian soldiers. HDF PRT contributed to the gifts with lots of exercise books, story-books, board games and wooden toys, coloured pencils and crayons and handed them over to the little recipients, to their delight. The next station of the project was also Pol-e Khomri.
The Provincial Reconstruction Team paid a visit to the orphanage and, of course, they did not arrive empty handed. Muhamad Yasim, the headmaster – who is also the head of the kindergarten – was looking forward to the assistance. He was grateful to the soldiers, who on this occasion brought toys, blankets, towels, clothes and shoes for the forty orphans.
