Pumping hope into Afghanistan

In a time when every day there is more and more daily news about conflict in the Middle East, two Fairfield students send back a story of hope from Afghanistan. During Fall 2004 and Spring 2005, Aamina Awan ’07 and Mikaela Conley ’06 worked through Fairfield’s Students for Social Justice club to create the Afghan Children’s Fund. They raised over $3,000, in addition to clothing and other necessities, according to a university press release. They used the funds to build a badly needed water pump in the village of Aloudine in Afghanistan, which is home to about 200 families. The pump was dedicated this past summer with a message of peace and joy for a brighter future. Running water is something we take for granted in our country. But in Aloudine, before the pump was installed, families in the village had to spend hours every week bringing water to their homes. The women became acquainted with the situation in Afghanistan through Conley’s father, Lt. Col. Christopher Conley, who works with the Afghan National Army Central Corp., and has a lead role in rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. Col. Conley was stationed in Afghanistan for a year, and during this time he sent his daughter e-mails describing what he was seeing and how it was affecting Afghani children, Awan said. “The elders told me there is a serious shortage of drinking water,” said Col. Conley in a press release. Awan and Conley, both international studies majors, were put in contact with one another through their advisor, Katherine Kidd, a former professor of international studies, after Conley mentioned an interest in getting involved. The Social Justice club was just starting the Afghan Children’s fund, and it was the perfect opportunity for Awan and Conley to make a difference. In just one semester of fundraising through the Social Justice club, they raised enough money to have a water pump installed, in addition to 30 boxes of clothing they collected for the local high school children. “We never visited the village, but Mikaela’s father sent us pictures of the children wearing the Fairfield University sweatshirts that we shipped out,” said Awan. “It was incredible to see how we actually made a difference.” Lt. Conley believes that even the smallest effort can help make a huge difference, and the Afghanistan Children’s Fund has already had a great impact on the local community. “The devastation that has befallen Afghanistan by wars, drugs and violence is overwhelming, but it is the little things that have allowed this country to turn the corner to find peace,” he said in a press release. “It will be things like a little girl going to school, trust in the local police officer or a new well in a small village,” he said. “The Afghanistan Children’s Fund was one such thing.” Awan is now involved in fundraising for relief efforts in Pakistan, which is her native country, according to Melissa Quan, assistant chaplain of Campus Ministry, who works closely with Students for Social Justice. “These types of projects are the type that Students for Social Justice hopes to pursue,” said Quan. The Students for Social Justice club aims to raise awareness and concern about social justice issues. They meet periodically throughout the semester.