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| July 2009 | Scouting New Projects |
 PARSA held it's first FUNd-raising Dinner and Auction on Thursday June 25th. It was a great event with dinner and a LIVE Auction with Canada's own Mark Raymond as the Auctioneer. His rendition of Happy Birthday to PASRA was a show-stopper and his auctioneer skills were top notch. We couldn't have done it without him. The Event was held outside in the Garden at Le Bistro and we all had a fabulous time. Khyber Zoo - a local expat band entertained us with music and our Auction raised over $2,000.00. We networked, met new friends and ended the evening learning Salsa from Janina - the Salsa instructor from the UN (Director of Communications). Thanks to all our Kabul friends for spreading the word about our event and for joining us in raising some much needed funds for PARSA. We can hardly wait for next year's event!!  PARSA Reception in Seattle!! Marnie and Reese along with Amy Woodruff will be holding a PARSA reception for donors, friends and family. Join us for Cocktails and Appetizers at the beautiful home of Stephanie Barden in North Capitol Hill, Seattle. We will be happy to answer any questions about living in Afghanistan - specifically the Kabul area and we would love to tell everyone about what PARSA is doing and our latest projects. Please join us!!
We will send out an EVITE for RSVP's so be on the look out!! But if you want to let us know NOW you will be attending - please feel free to email: fieryglass@gmail.com
Seattle: 206.523.6343, Kabul: 0799020588
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A New Endeavor - Bamiyan Women's Garden
 On a recent trip to Bamiyan province, Marnie had the occasion to visit the Bamiyan Women's Garden where PARSA has a new shop. It is a beautiful space with a large garden, an amazing greenhouse, a child's playground, a fabulous restaurant and the potential for educating the women on gardening skills, catering, cooking and kitchen gardens. We are excited to be taking over this amazing project and are look forward to the challenges and rewards we will recieve from this amazing new endeavor!! One day we hope to see the Women's Garden as a tourist destination, near Bamiyan and Afghanistan's first National Park Band e Amir. But for now, it will soon serve as a training ground for gardening projects to include seedlings, kitchen gardens and also hospitality and customer service training.
Scouting is BUILDING in Kabul
 Scout Troop 001 Scouting is kicked off in Kabul. Reese and Yasin have worked hard to get the boys and girls in the Kabul orphanages excited about scouting and have started Scout Troop 001. We need all the help we can get!! Our Scouts need sponsorships for uniforms, badges and trainers! The kids are loving the experience and having a great time with trust activities and team building. Thanks to Amazon.com, we were able to buy Boy Scout handbooks and have been madly translating and adapting the BSA pledges and traditions to be more Afghan friendly. We are looking for Scout troops interested in sponsoring an Afghan Troop. Get international and learn about life abroad!! If you are interested in learning more about PARSA's scouting initiative for the Afghan children, please don't hesitate to contact us anytime. mgustav@mac.com fieryglass@gmail.com
We are moving up - Our Higher Education Program
 PARSA is going to be teaching at Kabul University!! In an effort to help better educate the Afghan teachers, PARSA will be attending Kabul University in the psychosocial department, working with senior university students who will undergo an intensive 175 hour training and practicum to learn how to TEACH teachers in the public schools. This program is in thanks to Asia Foundation funds from USAID.
The pilot program for this project had participating children with learning disabilities, emotional trauma, family conflict and issues with self confidence receiving special attention from their teachers (under PARSA supervision). PARSA's program works to train teachers to use disciplinary techniques other than corporal punishment and requires the teachers to commit to non-violence in the classroom. One of the greatest rewards this program provides is to introduce a community based approach to mental health. Our work at
Kabul University will allow PARSA to develop the trained professionals
necessary to replicate this program in schools around the country.
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