Tents4Peace International
Shelter for Life
Child of
Afghanistan
Past projects – Afghanistan Peace House
At the request of ‘Save the Children Fund,’ Tents4 Peace was able to raise more funds, and build ‘Peace House’, a home for widows and children who had been affected by the 2005 earthquake. This was built on land in Kabul transferred to Mahboba’s Promise Charity and Tents4 Peace. More funds were raised for Peace House through concerts in Melbourne and Hobart, which featured Master Sitar player, Kahlil Gudaz, and Master Tabla player, Bobby Singh, violinist Dian Booth and a local Tasmanian group Czardas as supporters.
Peace House was built under the directorship of Sidiq Rawi of Mahboba's Promise. This orphanage is now run by that organisation and incorporates permaculture principles.
Many of the Afghani refugees made homeless as a result of the earthquake, were put into unsuitable and poorly established refugees camps. They were not receiving any of the aid coming from the Western Countries and the Pakistan Government was not supporting them. Many decided to return to their war torn country across the Khyber Pass.
‘Tents4Peace’ decided to partner with Dr Nasreen, a doctor working in these
camps, and the organization known as Mahboba’s Promise.
In September 2006 Anna Crotty went with Mahboba Rawi to assess the situation in Afghanistan. It was then decided to provide permanent shelter for some of these destitute Afghani refugees who were returning from Pakistan.
In 2007 the ‘Peace House’ orphanage was completed and it now houses many widows and children. The building is also used for training purposes to ensure that women and children get as much education as possible, thus increasing their chances for future independence.
– RUMI HOUSE AND EDUCATION CENTRE –
We also have established a Community House known as Rumi House in suburban Kabul. This home supports several widows with about 25 children and it is used on a daily basis as a school for the women. The Afghan Government has given Tents4Peace a prime piece of land in New Kabul.
This will be used for a pre school centre, orphanages and school and permacultural pursuits, when we can raise sufficient funds to build (See "Brick by Brick Project")
Fazila Hajeb travelled to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. She set up Rumi House as well as registering our organisation in Afghanistan. On behalf of Tents4Peace she also obtained a prime piece of land in New Kabul. It is both Fazila's and Anna's vision to build a progressive orphanage and school here which will led the way in energy efficient and sustainable living principles. This is so greatly needed in Afghanistan. 
What is Rumi House
Rumi House is a community house in suburban Kabul which takes in desperate widows and their children until they can find alternative accommodation and means to support themselves.
Each month Tents4Peace buys flour, tea and rice and other sundries at the cost of $100 per family. The cost of educating the children is also built into this amount. If you wish to support a family please contact us.
Education Centre at Rumi House
Rumi House is also used as a day school which has now approximately 47 full time students. These students are mainly girls and widows who were prohibited from going to school during the Taliban regime. A training program of sewing and computer skills is also held at the Centre for the widows. The school is always well attended however Tents4Peace does not have the resources to sustain this level of commitment without resources and we usually have to turn women away. Even so it is not unusual for them to sit and wait patiently in the hot sun with a hope in their heart that they might be able to attend class. We would dearly love to have the continual flow of funds to support them.
We have two teachers and a wonderful woman called Rahila who runs the entire complex at great personal sacrifice to herself. She left her paid position as a teacher to volunteer with Tents4Peace. We are hoping that we will be able to get some sponsorship funds to pay Rahila $250 a month for her enormous efforts.
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| Women at Rumi House waiting for education class |
Children in education classes |
Rahila and the teacher |
The orphanage known as Rumi House has now been relocated to an area near Mahboba Promise. We are currently operating out of a home owned by Sidiq Rawi.
(Please see our Afghanistan gallery for more pictures)