Report: Yusuf Alemi

Despite the rebuilding of Ghulam Mohammad Ghubar high school, the students, teachers and administrative of the mentioned school complain about the lack of electricity in school.

Abdullah, one of the students told our reporter that I am very happy that our school has been newly built, but I will request from the Power & Energy authorities to extend the power cables to our school. Without power we can not have our computer classes and no facility of our school’s laboratory.

Mr. Malik Nadeem, principle of GMG high school said,” We are very glad that we have newly built classes for our students. Lots of new students are interested to join our school. As we are not provided with electric, we face lots of problems. We have not started the computer classes to our students; even the maintenance of school is not possible without the power. We have asked the Ministry of Education’s authorities about this issue, but nothing has been done yet.”

Kids & Youths desire in TV presenting and announcements in RTA

Report: Farida Hares Faizi

There are remarkable number of kids and youths interested in TV presenting, announcements and reporting for Radio and Television of Afghanistan RTA. The number of these new comers gets increasing day by day.

According to Farida Hares Faizi, Director of Kids News Network Afghanistan, we have lots of youths visiting our office and asking for TV presenting training. Let’s not forget that KNN Afghanistan has a presenter training program, as a result of which many TV presenters have been graduated successfully and employed by RTA and other private TV stations in Afghanistan.

Sports News

Afghanistan wins the 20×20 Asian Cricket Championships

Prepared by: Mohammad Tawfiq Amin

The 20×20 Asian cricket championship that began a couple of weeks ago has finally come to a fantastic end. Beating Oman national team in the final, Afghanistan Cricket Team has proved once again to the world that without any essential facility of professional exercises, standard ground, sport materials…etc; Afghans are capable of winning like these tournaments.

Moreover, by winning the final of 20×20, Afghanistan finds its way to the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The general director of Afghan National Olympic Committee has praised the Afghan team and wished them more success in the future.

As a result of last 3 decades of civil war, Afghanistan’s athletes could not find a chance to attend any world cup. This winning has wakened all Afghan athletes once again and motivates them to win the same trophies.

KNN Afghanistan has the pleasure to say Congratulations to Afghan national team and the entire Nation.

Report: Suraya Rahmati Bahar

Kabul students face lots of problems using the national buses to get to schools. This problem is mainly due to the recent bus stop changes in crowded areas of Kabul city. The Char Rahi Sedarat (Sedarat square bus stop) has recently moved to Quwaye Markaz (800-1000 meters far from the previous bus stop), which is quite a far distance for students to catch up the buses in the rush hours of Kabul city.

The Kabul Traffic authorities say that the bus stops have been moved to the new location to solve the problems of the citizens face daily in the rush hours, but the students and local people reject this idea and add that these bus stop changes have created even more problems than they were facing before.

A student said that our school is located in the city, when I come to school; I have to use two buses everyday that cost me twice bus fare and time than I was paying earlier.On the other hand, the bus stop diversions have created the same problem for other citizens too. They claim that we have to pay two bus fares everyday to get to our jobs from one side. We get to our offices late everyday. The previous bus stops were very helpful.

School books’ sale in Kabul markets

Report: Noor Agha Adil

Various Kabul school students complain about the selling of school text books in Kabul city’s book stores. This issue problem has occurred in a specific time that most students of Kabul city have not received the text books from schools.It happens every year that all of the students are not be able to receive the text books from schools, where it is distributed free by the Ministry of Education. None of the book sellers answer the question that WHERE HAVE YOU GOT THESE SCHOOL BOOKS FROM?

It is worth to mention that school books are only published by Ministry of Education and they are distributed free to students every year. At the end of each grade, students hand over back the books to school for next year’s students. It is not allowed to sell the school books anywhere.

Rangeen Kaman monthly magazine

Report: Farida Hares

The new edition of Rangeen Kaman magazine has been published. This monthly magazine that contains useful topics for kids and youths is printed by Hakeem Sanayee Foundation.

Sports News

Bicycle riding competitions

Report: Humayoon Nazari The bicycle riding competition has 6 stages. The first stage was from Kabul city to Parwan city that has just been completed.

Naseer Ahmad from Parwan city got the 1^st position, while Hashmatullah from Kabul and Qais from Ghazni got the 2^nd and 3^rd positions respectively. The final stage of this competition will end in Jawzjan city (North).

Report: Najibullah Najib

Despite of the presence of many foundations and NGOs working for improvement of labor children’s position, the number of labor children’s working on Kabul streets gets increased day by day. Children Rights activists condemn the labor children’s work as it has been banned by the Children Rights’ Convention.

The Kabul markets are busy with lots of people shopping everyday; unfortunately most of the sellers are children and youths. The foundations and NGO’s working for children have not done enough to abolish children’s labor on streets.

Ahmad Zabeh, a child labor said that I work hard everyday and when go home I get very tired in the nights. When I watch other children continue their education I feel very sorry about myself and wish I could join school too.

Peace and Security

Report: Yusuf Alemi

Peace and Security is one of the major and important elements of life, without that kids and youths can not continue their educations well. Some children and their families said this in their interviews with our reporter.Children and youths are the future makers of the country, they need peace and security to complete their education and when graduated, serve the country better accordingly.

Sadaf, Abu Al-Qasem Ferdawsy School’s student said,” fight is enough; we want peace and security in our country. If we have peace we can study well and help our people via our educations.”

Parwen Dost, one of the parents added that peace and security is mothers only wish to have for their kids. I hope the security authorities of Afghanistan try harder to provide a peaceful atmosphere for our children.

Kabul students complain about the traffic jams in the city

Report: Noor Agha Adil

Most of Kabul students complain about the daily traffic jams in the city. These traffic jams are due to some main road closer and diversions around the crowded and busy roads of Kabul city.

Some students told our reporter that we ask the Kabul Traffic Department and other related authorities to solve this problem, because we can not get to school on time.

Girls’ Vocational Institute

Report: Farida Hares

Due to the lack of security and some other issues in the country, a large number of girls are not able to join schools. A Non Governmental Organization has established a vocational institute in Kabul city. An authority of the NGO added that our aim is to provide a vocational training opportunity for those girls, who can not go to schools.

Sports News

World Army Wrestling Team’s Championship India

Reporter: Humayoon Nazari

Abdul Karim, the Afghan Army Wrestling Team’s member got the bronze medal in this championship.The world army wrestling teams’ championship that was participated by 127 countries’ army teams held in Haidar Abad-India, has ended 3 days ago.

Asian Countries Cricket Tournament, Kuwait-2007

Report: Humayoon Nazari

The 2007 Cricket Tournament under the title of “Best Cup” between 10 Asian Cricket Teams to be held in Kuwait from 25 October to 05 November 2007.The Afghan cricket team of 26 players under the management of Mr. Shahzada Massoud has departed from Kabul to Kuwait.

Farida Haris Faizi

Director of KNN Afghanistan

One of the first pioneers of children programs in Radio Television of Afghanistan, Miss. Farida Haris, a mother of three children and one of the finest faces Afghanistan has ever produced in the field of Production of Children Programs.

She first joined the National School of Radio Television Engineering, Which later on; she joined the Institute of Journalism faculty of Kabul University and made herself one of the qualified Producer-Director with having extensive knowledge in both Technical and Creative Field of production.

She has been working in Radio Television of Afghanistan since 1986.During the civil war like millions of Afghan, she was living in Refugee in Pakistan, but she always carried her responsibility towards her nation, especially to Afghan Children living in Refugee Camps in Peshawar- Pakistan.

She has produced Children Programs for BBC and CNN, specially concentrating on issues of children in refugee camps and effect of war on them. After the Fall of Taliban, she came back to Afghanistan in 2002 and immediately joined Inter-news, which later she made her way to CIDA office as Responsible person in building Radio Stations in all Provinces and Training of Young Journalist and producers.

Her passion for children programs never faded, after she noticed that Production of High Quality Children Program was an urgent need in the framework of National TV, she Joined Back Radio Television of Afghanistan and worked in the Department of education programs for children as director of Kid News Network Afghanistan, Future Makers Program and till now she is busy in making programs for children.

Miss Farida’s opinion about KNN Afghanistan and Future Makers Program, “It needs to struggle to achieve something in your life, with real meaning, and for me it is to bring a smile on the face of a Child…I deeply believe that without a healthy and awaked generation of children we could not build this nation. Future Makers Program really has been successful in wining the heart of Afghan Children”.

Mohammad Tawfiq Amin

Sales/Marketing Manager KNN Afghanistan 

Mohammad Tawfiq Amin is another bright face that joined the team of Future Makers in May 2007.

He has been graduated from Habibia High School and got incomplete university degree in Economics and Law & Political Science Faculty of Kabul University. He has got huge experience in Administrative, Management and Finance fields.

Mr.Amin has previously been working with different high profile governmental and non governmental organization in Afghanistan and United Kingdom, like the Ministry of Finance, Peugeot Citreon Automobiles UK Ltd, Power Logistic-Power Europe Company in England.

With having a real contribution and bringing achievements to these Organizations, Mr. Amin has proved of being a young successful Afghan Man.

Mr. Amin has wide access in using different computer programs, using of English as a Professional Language and Familiarities with Arabic and Urdu Languages which simply makes him a man with real approach to his profession.

He was the one who started running KNN Afghanistan’s website for the first time that was controlled from Brazil before. Mr. Amin collects the weekly news of KNN Afghanistan, translates and then updates the website.

Here what he thinks about Future Makers:” For me it has been a privilege joining this successful team and program, also a big responsibility and challenge for better performance. As an Afghan Kid, who grown up during the civil war, I always felt the lack of educational programs for children and their issues where simply ignored. Luckily I am really optimistic about the Future Generations, which will not have this feeling, they have Future Makers program with real contribution in education of children and giving the news to them. I will try my best and hope that we all should put our hands together and work to continue this effective program. Thank You KNN and Future Makers”.

Report: Noor Agha Adil

The labor children recently opened bank accounts with the initiative of Mr. Farhad Darya (Afghan famous singer). Mr. Darya’s opinion is to improve the economical infrastructures of these poor children’s families so that their families won’t have to send their kids to work on the streets.

According to BBC, Mr. Darya has opened bank accounts for 2000 labor children with the initial opening amount from his personnel bank account. He added that the target is to help the poor children families and motivate them to allow their children to join schools. The 2000 children have been selected from Kabul city, but the long term strategy is to help all needy children around the country.

Mr. Darya added that to achieve the target and help these poor children, he will have some concerts across Europe and USA to grab the attention of Aid Agencies and private donors.

Mr. Darya had a concert with some of the street children labors of Kabul city via Radio and Television of Afghanistan RTA last year. The program’s title was kocha (street) and it was praised by Independent Commission of Human Rights.

According to Mr. Darya, it takes 6 months to start the program of sending money to these children via their bank accounts. He said in a press conference that the bank accounts have been opened in these children’s mother’s names.

Assistance with the Orphans

Report: Farida Hares FaiziUniversal Target a NGO based in Kabul provided some cloths, stationery and food to 80 orphan children of Kabul city. These children have been nominated by the mentioned NGO earlier. An authority of the NGO added that their assistance will continue with orphans of other areas of Kabul city.

Sports News

Afghanistan Youths Union’s Football Competition

Report: Humayon Nazari

Afghanistan youths union’s football competition that started one month earlier, has reached the semi final stage. Four football clubs (Youths’ Union, Esteqlal, Shamshad and Sabawoon) of the 10 football clubs of Kabul city, which attended the competition, have reached the semi final stage. The final will be played next week.

Jawanan-e-Moaref Football Team returns home

Report: Humayon Nazari

Jawanan-e-Moareg football team has returned to Kabul after their football competitions in China. The 16 players, manager and trainer of the team spent 12 days in China for training and friendly football matches. The target was to have some preparation for Asian Football Championship’s qualifying rounds.

KNN Afghanistan has the pleasure to say happy Eid-ul-Fetr to all Muslims specially the Afghans around the world. May Allah accept your fasts and forgive your sins.

It has been a trend among the Afghan kids to make preparation for Eid such as buying new clothes, shoes, go to all relatives’ houses and say happy Eid and ask for Eid-e (amount of money paid to kids on Eid days). Let us say the Eid is for kids and belongs to kids.

KNN Afghanistan has prepared a special entertainment Eid program for kids with the length of 38 minutes for 1^st day of the Eid. This program contains the happy Eid messages of kids to their families and friends, Eid song of Mr. Jawed Akhtari, interesting and short topics from around the world, doll theatre, youth’s topics and Afghan national dance.

Presented by:  Hasib Tokhi, Muzhgan Shokori, Maryam Rahmati and Khatera Noori.

Moreover, KNN has produced special entertainment Eid program for kids and youths with the length of 22 minutes for 2^nd day of the Eid. The program contains kids’ happy Eid messages to their families and friends, interesting topics from around the globe and Tajeki song of Masooma -Selsela dar.

Presented by:  Noor Agha Adil and Hasina Rahimi.

News programs to be broadcasted after the Eid.

Report by: Farida Hares

Despite the lack of newspapers and magazines related to kids and youths issues in the country, the 11^{th edition of Parwaz monthly magazine which contains topics for kids and youths has been published after a gap of one year.Parwaztailoring-sewing course , a 45 color pages monthly magazine is designed specially for kids and youths. There are lots of kids and youths interested in magazines containing their issues, but less magazines printed.}

^{Reconstruction of Tahy-e-maskan Orphanage}

^{Report by: Suraya Rahmati Bahar}

^{Tahy-e-maskan orphanage’s building that has not been repaired and painted for the last 25 years has been reconstructed by China’s Aid Agency. The students of this orphanage need their hostel problems to be solved too. Nabiullah, a tahy-e-maskan orphanage student said,” we are very happy that the building of our orphanage has been reconstructed and repaired; we deeply thank China’s assistance with our orphanage. We wish their assistance to continue and solve our other problems so that we would be able to continue our educations accordingly.”}

^{Poetry and painting competition on the occasion of world peace day Report by: Noor Agha Adil}

Kids News network Afghanistan has produced and broadcasted a special peace program with length of 23 minutes. The contents of this documentary program were news, effects and pictures of some issues done for the kids and the problems they faced in the past 6 years.

Moreover, KNN had interviews with disabled kids and let them say their wishes, most of which were,” we want peace!”Kids News Network Afghanistan has the pleasure to congratulate the world’s peace day to all kids around the world especially to those poor Afghan kids, who had lived in civil war and conflicts for the last 3 decades. Wish you a peaceful Afghanistan!!! 

Kids’ vaccination on the occasion of world peace dayReport by: Noor Agha Adil

World Health Organization (WHO) with the assistance of UNICEF has launched a vaccination campaign on the occasion of world peace day in eastern and southern cities of the country. In this campaign that last for three days, the kids have been vaccinated against the polio. 

Acshiana’s kids visit RTA on the countdown of world’s peace day Report by: Farida HaresKabul kids took part in celebration of world’s peace day. Some Acshiana’s kids visited Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) and sent their messages to the general director of RTA that war is enough! Our only wish is peace and security in Afghanistan. A kid asked director or RTA,” What have you done for peace?” Mr. Abdul wahed nazari director of RTA replied that Radio and Television of Afghanistan belongs to all Afghans and has tried its best to produce and broadcast peace programs through our different programs.”In addition of interviews and visit of RTA, kids have sung their songs and appreciated the RTA’s authorities for broadcasting their messages via KNN Afghanistan.

Students complain about the lack of proper teaching method in educational coursesReport by: Noor Agha Adil

With the establishment of peace and security in the country, it has been added to the number of people interested in learning foreign languages. Lots of English language courses can be found in all areas of Kabul and other cities.

Meanwhile, some students have complains about the lack of proper teaching in these courses. Some say that teachers just want to finish the semesters, without any consideration of teaching the students. 

Reconstruction of Mahmood Hotaki high school Report by: Yusuf Alemi

Students of Mahmood Hotaki high school complained about the lack of classes in school. The reconstruction work of the mentioned schools has already begun but, students complain about the speed of this project.The reconstruction which includes 4 classes and administrative offices has been funded by Education improvement committee of the Ministry of Education and a private company. Jawed, a student added,” we have not got classes to study in. during our lessons, the wind brings dust and other rubbish inside our classes. We wish our classes to be built soon so that we would be able to continue our education in peace and relaxed minds.”Mrs. Wakila Korokhel, principle of Mahmood Hotaki high school said that the reconstruction work of our school will be completed in next 1-2months and students’ problems will be solved by then. 

Sport News

Jawana-e-Moaref Football Team’s background Report by: Humayon NazariJawanan-e-Moaref’s football team with its football background had the opportunity to get a notable position among the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan. This team could not get the top position due to some technical problems, as they were not provided a play ground. All their exercises takes place in Chaman-e-Hozori (a playing ground with lots of dust and rubbish that sometimes it is hard to find the team players in dusty air).Fortunately, the team has been permitted to play in Amani High School’s Gymnasium; they are busy with their practice and warm up matches to get ready for football competitions held in November 2007 in India. 

As a result of kids’ carelessness and play with matches, a house in 10th zone (char qala wazir abad area) of Kabul city got fire. Sher Mohammad, house owner added that the fire began due to my kids’ carelessness and play with matches. The cost of damage is estimated around Af 70000.

Extension work of Qari Abdullah Secondary School

The foundation brick of Qari Abdullah Secondary School’s extension has been placed by Ministry of Education’s authorities in Kabul city. The cost of this two story building, which contains 6 classes and other necessary equipments, is $42850 that will be paid by Ministry of Education’s development budget.
Due to the lack of classes, the 4000 students of the mentioned school continue their education in 4 educational schedules daily.

Students complain about delay of building a bridge in front of the school

Amir Dost Mohammad Khan Secondary School’s students told our reporter that the bridge is ready to be fitted in front of our school, but governmental administrative and the local residents have dispute about the location of this bridge.
Ziaurrahman, a student of Amir Dost Mohammad Khan school said,” the students urgently need the bridge to be fitted in front of the school but the related authorities want that bridge to be located far from the school and residential area that will not have any benefit.”
A resident added that if this bridge has been built for students and residents, it should be located in front of the school. Fitting the bridge far from the school and residential area will be just a display and will not solve our problems.

Despite of children’s rights convention that bans children’s work, Afghan kids and youths are busy with their daily jobs on the roads, footpaths and city’s markets.

Due to last 3 decades of Afghan civil war, so many families have lost their parents. The only reason that makes the families to send their children work on the footpaths is the hunger.

Ahmad Jawad a young welding worker says” it is too hard for me to work in a welding workshop because I am too young to left heavy materials”.

What will be the future of these young Afghan labors that need education?

An Afghan citizen says” Government must provide the opportunity for these young workers to follow their education and when graduated find an easy job and feed their families”.

Lack of drinking water

Due to the sharp raise of population in Kabul City, some poor who can not afford to build or rent a house in the city, builds their houses in hillsides and mountains. The main problem of living in the mountains is lack of water. Kids suffer a lot from this, because they have to come to the ground level 4-5 times daily and supply water to their families.

Sports NewsAfghan Karate championship

The Afghan indoor Karate Championship was attended by 76 under 16, 18 and over 18 athletes from 5 cities; Kabul, Badakhsan, Ghor, Heart and Ghazni. Kabul Team with 120 points got the 1^st position, Heart and Ghazni got the 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

Street Footballers World Cup 2007

Afghan Street Footballer Team that was placed in group C of this championship got the 4^th position in its group by beating England, Sweden, Kazakhstan and Zambia. In this championship that was participated by 48 countries, Afghan Footballers had 6 wins and 7 lose that placed them in 19 position of the Street Footballers World Cup. Scotland won the championship, Poland and Denmark got the 2^nd and 3^rd positions respectively.

Chess

Under 16 and 18 Chess Team’s selection has started by participation of 60 Chess Players from 17 Cities. At the end of this championship that will take 8 days, 15 players will be selected for under 16 and 15 players will be selected for under 18 Afghan Chess Team. Moreover, 3 top players will be selected for Asian Chess Championship held in Kazakhstan.