For months, Ann had watched the faces of eager Afghan children on the news and wanted to do something to help. She decided she wanted to adopt one school, to send them school supplies and open a dialogue with one of the second grade classes in a local elementary school in Staunton, Illinois.

Ann visited the second graders and spoke to the children. Ann and her family collected school supplies. She and her mother made bookbags out of canvas--with a nine block square on the front in black, green and red to represent the new Afghan flag. One of Ann’s friends who is a carpenter, began making individual chalkboards using masonite and chalkboard paint. Another friend made Dari alphabet flashcards.

Now her challenge was to find a way to get these supplies to Afghanistan!! And what a challenge it was. There were calls to Senator’s offices, government agencies and relief agencies, but none could provide her with information about how to transport her supplies at a reasonable cost and with assurance that they would actually reach the children she intended to assist.

One night Ann caught part of a show on 20/20 Downtown where they told the story about a school in the United States who had built a school in Afghanistan and were sending them supplies and funding. Finally, Ann had a lead!

After several calls to ABC News in New York, she was able to get information about Kids 4 Afghan Kids from the show transcript. She immediately put in a call to Khris Nedam, who works with the Kids 4 Afghan Kids program in Michigan. Ann had finally arrived at her destination!!

Ann says, what she has learned from her contact with CIDI and Kids 4 Afghan Kids, is that "it is hard to send things to Afghanistan if you are an individual. It doesn't help their economy if I buy school supplies in the US (for a higher cost) when it is available there for less. It is easier to adopt an organization to support with money. If you really search, you can get exactly what you want and still support Afghan education!"

And, what has Ann Hoffstetter done with what she learned? She has taken on her mission with fury!

Khris Nedam from Kids 4 Afghan Kids will be Ann’s guest from April 1 until April 4, 2002. Ann has lined up speaking engagements for Khris at Mt. Zion School, an assembly of 460 middle school kids, at the Staunton Elementary second grade class (who wrote the letters) and at the Godfrey United Methodist Church. Ann has generously offered the 32 bookbags she and her family made, as an enticement for $20 donations to the Kids 4 Afghan Kids program.

Perhaps most gratifying is how Ann feels today. Her determination is enviable. Ann, a registered nurse and farm wife, is currently undergoing chemotherapy and winning the battle against Chronic Hepatitis C.  Yet through her struggle with illness, she has committed herself to helping the children of Afghanistan.  According to Ann, If she (Khris Nedam) will train me, I intend to speak at every church, school and organization in the State of Illinois who will allow me come to help raise funds for this school in Afghanistan.  Isn't life great . . . what a learning process!

The CIDI salutes Ann Ruyle Hoffstetter for her efforts to help the children of Afghanistan.

For additional information about Kids 4 Afghan Kids, visit http://www.kids4afghankids.com