Afghanistan: A Preschool to Reclaim Children in a War-torn Land

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Afghanistan
Afghanistan has experienced perpetual war since 1979.  That means every Afghan citizen under the age of 35 has never known peace.

Childhood development experts all agree that violence in the home or community creates negative effects on children.  Unfortunately, there are few long-term studies about the adults exposed as children to the constant violence of war.

What happens, then, to children raised in a country enduring constant war? What kind of adults do they become?  How do children who see violent death survive emotionally?  How do they learn to respect and value human life?  How do they overcome the terror and deprivation of war to become productive citizens?  After years of exposure to rage and hate, can they ever learn to love?

It appears that the war-torn Middle Eastern countries such as Afghanistan are producing an ever-increasing number of angry, hostile young men and women who seem attracted to such groups of al-Qaeda and ISIS.  Analysts estimate the average age of ISIS fighters is 30.  Could there be a connection between these terrorists and their exposure to violence as children?

While there are limited long-term studies on the psychology of violence on child development, there is short-term research.  These studies have shown that children most likely to successfully recover from trauma and exposure to violence are those with good support from family, community and church.  In several of those studies, researchers concluded “the most important resource protecting children from the negative effects of exposure to violence is a strong relationship with a competent, caring, positive adult.”

When Omega established their preschool in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, they sought to provide kindergarten-aged children a safe, loving environment.  They selected children from the poorest of families to educate and give them opportunities they might not have otherwise.  The preschool, Hosil, provides the kind of strong, positive environment described above.  The competent, caring Afghan teachers provide the kind of role model needed for the children to emulate.  The mix of genders allows both sexes to learn to respect as well as value each other.  The broad base of subjects opens the eyes of the children to unknown worlds outside their experiences.  As preschoolers, the youngsters are just the right age to accept learning and gaining impressions from their positive environment.

In addition to the school, the organization strengthens the families by providing literacy programs to the mothers and helps with parenting and home life.

In short, Omega strives to provide the resources necessary to weaken the impact of violence on some of the children of a war-torn world.  Right now they are doing this for just a few children at a time but plan to do much more.  In the meantime, maybe these efforts will lead the way to increased development of a country of prosperity and peace.

We welcome any questions you may have about our organization.  Please feel free to contact us at any time.