The video above was made by Action Aid Afghanistan in December 2014.
Background
Hello. My name is Alan Cooper and I have been campaigning for human and animal rights since the early 1980's, and I am the founder of
Campaign for the Abolition of Animal Slavery.
Since 2009 I have sponsored a number of projects in Afghanistan including bore-hole wells in Balkh province and in Bamyam province. I have also funded a group women who live in the caves to learn tailoring so they could have the means to earn a living.
On May 2013 a group of photographers came to Afghanistan via ActionAid UK for filming Afghan Children. During this visit one of the places which was focused on was Bamyan caves in Petab Laghman Village Central Bamyan where the ancient Bamyan Idols are also
located. The caves were made thousand of years before for pilgrims who came for religious reasons and stayed there. The caves do not have doors, windows, drinking water, electricity, toilets and other facilities but now many families are living there like
Freshta’s family because of poor living condition and lack of houses. Freshta has three brother Gul Hussain 10 studing in grade two, Ali Hussain 7 and Sardar 4 months. Her father is a labour and her mother is house wife.
I have been sponsoring two Afghan girls in Balk province for 5 years and as a consequence was sent a report about the visit of Action Aid to Bamyam caves. Several hundred people are living in these caves. Included in the report was a lovely photograph
of Freshta, a young child. I knew then that I would do everything I could to get her out of the cave and into a house.
Living in a cave is alright if by choice, but surely not by neccessity? We can argue how in spite of all the foreign aid that has gone into Afghanistan why a government still has its citizens living in such primitive conditions. That is a proper dialogue,
but we can also act as individuals and do something about it. I did.
In October 2014 I bought a house in Bamyam for Freshta and her family for £2000. Action Aid acted as agents for me. I get regular updates from Action Aid about their life and progress. It continues to be a very rewarding experience for me.
GOAL
If you decide you would like to help people getting housed, I will work with Action Aid Afghanistan who will help in the purchase of the house and we will keep you up to date with the progress of our campaign.
Learn more about
Action Aid here.
