Projects supported by The Karen Woo Foundation
The Foundation's aim is to support projects which focus on providing healthcare and education, particularly for women and children in Afghanistan.
As a small charity we look to carefully select fields and individual programs where it is possible to have a far reaching and sustainable effect ensuring that every penny contributed is used to best result.
Below you can find details about the projects that your money goes to support.
With your support we are delighted to have been able to make our first two grants this year, to The Children's House, Kabul, and The Childlight Foundation for Afghan Children.
The Children's Home Healthcare Access Programme for Destitute Children - run by La Chaine de l'Espoir
Our first grant was made to La Chaine de l'Espoir to pay for 15 children to receive treatment and appropriate surgical care through 2012.
The Children's House, and La Chaine de l'Espoir Children's Project was initiated in 2005. The aim of the project is to identify and ensure treatment for the poorest children from the rural areas. They would be brought to the Children's House in Kabul, accommodated alongside family members and all necessary medical and surgical care would be arranged at one of the Kabul Hospitals. The children would return to the Children's House for recovery before being returned home. Conditions range from cleft lips to serious heart defects.
Children that your support has helped:
Samiullah son of Abdullah
An 8 year old boy from Maidan Wardak Province. He was referred to the Children's project in April 2012 by the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) with Bilateral Club feet.
Samiullah's father supports a family of seven by running a small village shop in a rural area, the family could not afford treatment for the little boy.
On 3rd May Samiullah started his treatment at FMIC with surgery for Bilateral Achilles elongation + wedge osteotomy. Over the following months he underwent further procedures and at the end of July began physiotherapy.
With this surgery and treatment Samiullah has a bright future ... and will be able to walk, run and play normally without impairment.
Ahmad Abill son of Ahmad Homayon
This little boy is 8 months old, from Kapisa Province. He was referred to the Children's project by the Afghan Red Crescent society in June 2012 with Cleft lip and Palate.
The family have poor economic situation with the father being the only wage earner for a family of 5, he works as a Cleaner in one of the district Governmental offices,the average salary being 4000 Afghani per month ($80).
Ahmad Abill was intially seen at the French Hospital in late June and booked for his first surgery in July 2012 where he underwent the surgery for - Repair of Cleft Lip - he remained in hospital for 2 days and was then discharged to the Children's house.
Ahmad has done really well, and has healed well with no complications. His parents are absolutely delighted. His second and final surgery of Closure of Cleft Palate will be performed in September.
Noora Khil son of Qasim Khil
Noora Khil is a 10 year old boy, coming from Paktia Province. His family had previously not been able to afford treatment for the child, and it was only when one of our previous patients parent informed them of The Children's Project that they came to Kabul to seek treatment for Noora Khil. The father is disabled and works as a shoemaker to support 4 children.
Noora Khil was diagnosed as Bilateral Genu Valgum ( Knock knee deformity )
The young boy was admitted to FMIC in March 2012 for his first surgery of Distal Femur Osteotomy. Following surgery Noora spent a period in plaster and was then referred to the International Red Cross for temporary Orthosis and Physiotherapy.
As you can see the results have been wonderful.
Rohullah son Mirza Jan
A little boy of 7 years old coming from Tagab district, Kapisa Province. He was referred to the Children's project by Tagab District hospital in March 2012 with Right Club foot. The father is a subsistence farmer, his income comes mainly from the proportion of the crops which he receives in payment for his work. The family also have a cow and sell the milk, they are in a difficult economic situation, and have never previously sought treatment for Rohullah due to this.
His treatment was lengthy involving surgery, plaster casts, further surgery with change of cast and manipulation and finally being fitted with an ankle Foot Orthosis which he will continue to wear for some months.
As you see by his photos after surgery he is full of beans and ready to go!!!
Yousuf son of Dawod
Yousuf was only 10 months old when he was referred from Balkh province. Yousuf was born with Cleft Lip and Palate. He was referred in June 2012 by a Plastic surgeon who understood the family were extremely poor.
The father is a daily worker, often travelling to the rural areas for work on the land, the mother supplements the family income by cleaning and washing clothes in private houses, the couple have 5 children to support.
Yousuf 's first surgery was on the in July 2012 for Repair of Cleft Lip.
Yousuf has progressed well after surgery, and will return in September for Repair of Cleft Palate. Yousuf's parents are happy are happy with his progress so far.
The Childlight Foundation for Afghan Children - Projects and Programs 2012
Our second grant was made to The Childlight Foundation for Afghan children to cover 6 specific projects ranging from providing vital equipment for an orphanage, to a 'Healthy Families in Nangarhar' Seminar.
The Childlight Foundation for Afghan Children was set up by Diana Tacey in 2011 and she travels to Afghanistan each year from the USA on humanitarian trips bringing with her highly skilled volunteers and liaising with in-country support. Their 'organisation statement' says they are dedicated to provide care and support to women and children in selected schools and women's prisons. They aim to create sustainable programs to provide opportunities for women and children to experience accomplishment through increased learning growth and positive self esteem.
Summary of the projects undertaken June 2012 by the Childlight Foundation and funded by KWF
Project 1: New books were to be provided for 6 small libraries in girl's schools, women's prisons, kindergartens and orphanages.
Cost $3,000 spent
Project 2: This was intended to provide a teacher and supplies to a girl's school. Diana Tacey the Director of the Childlight Foundation found that the school had acquired a teacher and had adequate supplies from Rotary International. She proposed, as the school was operating efficiently without further resources, the budget be transferred to project 3
Project 3: This was a Women's Prison Support Program to improve literacy and vocational training and to purchase clothing including baby supplies.
Cost $8,801
Project 4: was the'Healthy Families in Nangarhar' women's seminar. This was a successful one day workshop.
Cost $1800
Project 5: The original plan was to improve a school building for girls and provide school supplies, uniforms, salary for a teacher and heaters for the winter with fuel.
Cost: $1983
Project 6: Beauty Schools in Women's Prison and Adolescent Detention Centre. One prison requested a projector for staff training instead. One women's prison was given a beauty station with supplies and the adolescent centre just required supplies
Cost: $1500
Project 7: To provide 6 new air conditioning units, other equipment and supplies needed to an orphanage. The air conditioning units were purchased locally and fitted with local labour. The Director of the Orphanage requested other funds be diverted to a medical emergency. A sick child at the orphanage required hospitalisation for investigations and possible surgical treatment.
Costs: $1540 with money held in reserve for surgery and for shoes for children.
The Trustees of the Karen Woo Foundation would like to thank everyone who has supported the charity, and helping make these projects possible.
We'd also like to acknowledge the tremendous courage and hard work of the people who run the projects.