We are not simply interested in building schools. We want to see peace within Afghanistan, as well as between Afghanistan and the United States. Thus, over the past eight years, Julia and her colleagues have given almost 500 “show and tells” around the United States, from elementary schools and universities to government agencies, businesses, religious institutions and Fortune 500 companies. Their hope is that Americans and Afghans will come to understand those who differ vastly in their expressions of religion, culture, language and scope of opportunities.

Each time she speaks, Julia has found Americans eager to help the children of Afghanistan and engage however they can. Uniquely, some 50,000 Americans from all over the country are “journeying” with our Afghan schools. Of these supporters, many are participating in our cultural exchange programs, which links a community in the U.S. to a community in Afghanistan, and a few have even come out to Mazar to see their “sister school."

In addition to providing the funds and expertise needed to build and supply schools for children, AEI's volunteers are strengthening the Afghan education system by helping Afghan government and community leaders identify specific tangible needs; research and implement relevant, sustainable and effective solutions; and provide advice and expertise on matters ranging from relief and development to the law, business, teacher training, PTA development, and engineering.  We also have developed literally thousands of relationships with Afghan civic and government officials, community leaders, teachers, students and parents.

Finally, we are doing our best to leverage our work. We are not simply educating American communities about Afghanistan.  We regularly meet face-to-face with members of the U.S. Congress, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, White House, U.S. State Department, and U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council to talk about the successes in Afghanistan and the importance of educating kids in the developing world. We also are developing a number of models that can be replicated in other war-torn areas and in other U.S. communities. For example, AEI has developed a model “school in a box,” teaching others the dos and don’ts of building schools; a model curricula for cultural exchanges; and models for grassroots advocacy and fundraising.