Page 47 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • March 2009 47
Afghan children in need of town’s help

Sahar Gul, below, inspired by The Link’s reporting of the Mayor of Swindon’s Christmas appeal for foot- So Elegant
ball kit to help the RAF make community links around their base in Afghanistan, is hoping people will of West Swindon
help to support an Afghan run charity in his country.
He escaped from tion that is infecting rupt offi cials can be rooted out. STUNNING RANGE
Pakistan to Britain in all the positive work “Afghan people are very tired of OF PROM GOWNS
2005 as the number to stabilise the coun- war and corruption; they want hope
of death threats from try, most of which is and to be given the chance to stand AVAILABLE NOW
extremists increased. not under attack from on their own feet.
Having learnt Eng- extremists. “There “Aschiana is helping thousands
lish at the University are many tensions in of children and families. During
of Peshawar, Sahar Afghanistan because Taliban times they secretly ran
worked for the govern- the aid money is not classes for girls and the founder Mr
ment and was respon- always being spent in Yousef was imprisoned for this.
sible for Afghan refu- the right place,” said “I would like Swindon people to
gees which brought Sahar. “Because of know more about their work and
him into contact with government corrup- perhaps we can have a meeting to
Western charitable organisations. tion, western donors say they will discuss ways to help.”
After the 9/11 attack he was taken only give money directly to NGOs The Link and Sahar are talking to
on as translator for American forces and to local charities. They in turn the Mayor Steve Wakefi eld who has
searching for Osama bin Laden in are pressured by corrupt offi cials said he would introduce him to the
Afghanistan but this put him in to hand over aid money. commander of RAF Lyneham.
harm’s way and eventually it was “The other thing is that aid money www.aschiana.org NEW AND “NEW TO YOU” RANGE
clear he would be killed. is directed to areas where there Additional research: Edith Glennie OF SPECIAL OCCASION WEAR
He could have gone to the US are Taliban attacks ‘STAR’ Bridal, Proms, Parties,
but chose to bring his family to and the places where Dinner Dance, Formal Cruise,
Swindon because Edward Glennie, things are calm get left Bridesmaids, Mother of the
his former college maths teacher, out, which means the Bride or Groom and more!
lives in Westlea. poorest people there Sizes 4 - 26
Sahar has maintained links with can be lured by the 94 Basepoint, Rivermead Drive,
western NGOs in Afghanistan like extremists.” Westlea, Swindon SN5 7EX
Save the Children and the Swiss aid However the pres- 01793 608822
organisation Terra TDH, and also ent Karzai government www.so-elegant.co.uk
Aschiana, a children’s charity set could be replaced and Open:
up by Afghans. He made a trip to Sahar hopes that cor- Tues - Fri 11am - 5pm Sat 10am - 5pm
his home village last year and came Help for families in an
back worried about the corrup- Aschiana refugee centre

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Red Oaks Primary • Uplands School
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10+ weeks of Block Bookings are welcome with no
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e-mail: [email protected]

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