The Founder and Executive Director of AAFF is an American, named Van Hubbard.  A water engineer by profession, Van has been working in Afghanistan since 2002.  For many years, Van's fours was on drilling much-needed wells and managing water projects.  His wife, Janese, is AAFF's Chief Financial Officer, as well as a public health nurse, who has trained trainers engaged in health education and coordinated the translation of training materials into Dari, the local language.  Together, the Hubbards have lived in Central Asia over 15 years.  In 2007 and 2008, Van was given an award by the Governor of Balkh Province for his outstanding contributions to the region.  It is the first time a foreigner has received such recognition.

Van has a staff of Afghan workers, including several well-respected construction workers.  One, in particular, has been the construction manager for most of the schools in our project.  Unlike other schools that have already fallen apart, ours have become models in the region.  No others have built them as cheaply or well.