The Warm Hugs for Children Organization exists to provide quality, free educational opportunities in arts, literacy and language, enriching the lives of disadvantaged children in our communities, thereby promoting freedom of expression, inclusion, creativity and opportunity. While many hope to do something for the vulnerable children of Afghanistan, Warm Hugs for Children is taking steps to active
ly and practically do increase the quality of the lives of these children. We have demonstrated that through sweat equity and volunteer efforts, it is possible to provide something beautiful, tangible and rewarding for the children of our community by opening a school named "School of Rainbows"
Hence, we are taking small steps through School of Rainbows to provide the most vulnerable with practical skills and the freedom to express themselves artistically and soulfully. We believe that these efforts are also part of the greater contribution towards the fight on poverty, illiteracy, dependency and despair while at the same time, setting a foundation for a somewhat brighter future for those who, without intervention, would have little to hope for. We believe our efforts in providing expression and hope to vulnerable children also, provide enrichment to our communities and, in turn, to our nation. Despite significant reforms to the educational sector in the last thirteen years in Afghanistan, tremendous challenges remain. Although the Ministry of Education indicates that 8 million children are now in school (Afghanistan National EFA Review Report, 2015), there are issues with both the quality of the education being offered and also with the significant number of children who are not receiving a formal education, due to disadvantage, economics and other circumstances. In terms of the quality of education being received, because there is such a significant shortage of qualified teachers in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Education has condensed the national curricula to a baseline minimum of 2.5 hours a day. This way, the small pool of existing teachers can teach multiple shifts of students, thereby increasing coverage but diluting quality. Some schools offer as many as 4 (2.5 hour) shifts daily. The rationale is that some exposure to a basic education is better than none. However, the dilution of the national curricula to this limited timeframe means that only the very basics of essential literacy, religious studies, maths and some history can be covered. The Afghan national government curriculum does not offer any arts education or art classes. When art classes are provided, these are done on a voluntary basis by the willingness of a particular teacher, usually in kindergarten classes or first grade classes. Moreover, since there is no art specialization for teachers and no formal art training in the teachers’ colleges, the art lessons provided are usually amateur, voluntary and ad hoc. There is no opportunity or materials for students to explore art techniques of composition, basic sketching, colour, and mixology or for students to be trained in depth or dimension techniques by persons with formal arts training. Since the government schools are therefore not providing any arts education, the art lessons and arts exposure conducted by WHCO is a completely unmet need that is not covered elsewhere. The second need this project covers is providing alternative educational services to disadvantaged children. In Afghanistan, an extraordinary number of children are, to no fault of their own, not receiving any education, or may have only limited access to education (street children, etc) is staggering. The exact number of children in Afghanistan who are outside the educational system is not known. However, a number of educational reports have estimated this number to be well above 5 million, possibly much higher. Since the Government does not have the resources or the ability to adequately meet this need, Warm Hugs for Children sees this as a community- based issue that we have the capacity, the dedication and the skills to make this happen.
