Saturday - The Night Before

Well, it’s the night before the flight. I take off first thing in the morning (Sunday)…all packed and BOY is there a lot to take from batteries to extensions cords, lighting kit (thanks Usman) to microphones, oh and of course a couple head scarves. I also had a few requests for items not available there so that left VERY little room for clothing, a couple pairs of pants and shirts does me. How am I going to carry it all?

I haven’t had much time to let any worry or second thoughts sink in as I have been so busy organizing my game plan. Four orphanages in Kabul, three in the eastern provinces, a possible woman’s prison and a couple Afghan aid organizations…plus all the general B-roll of the country and people in roughly 25 days…all by myself…during Ramadan…I’m about as crazy as those Taliban folk.

Bright and early Monday morning we are off to a refugee camp to distribute supplies to over 1000 families. What a terrific way to kick start the journey. I will write more once I get back from that experience...Good night. I wonder what tonight's dreams will bring...

Facebook Group

OK done...please also join the facebook group called Forgotten Victims - Documentary on Afghan Orphans...it's much easier to post pictures there.

August 25, 2009 - Introduction

Thank you very much for checking out this blog on Afghan orphans.

Well, I will be leaving Dubai early Sunday morning (August 30, 2009) for Afghanistan, where I will stay for a month while filming a documentary on the children made orphans there due to the relentless conflicts.

The adventure begins at the very beginning. I will be traveling to Kabul in an old soviet cargo aircraft with the 2 tons of donations I have collected over the last year from generous people across Dubai. I am told the flight will be very loud and uncomfortable sitting in and amongst all the cargo...I am not to expect first class treatment...darn as I love those little socks you get!

Once in Afghanistan, the itinerary will be thick with interviews all across Kabul and the eastern provinces. I will be staying at the Mehan orphanage, where children are sponsored and therefore live a very nice life inclusive of well-balanced meals, clothing and education. However that is certainly not the case for children at other orphanages across the country.

I will also be visiting the Mermar, Parwarishgah-e-Watan and Omid E Mirmun orphanages in Kabul. As well as the Rokhan and Fatimatuzahra orphanages in Nangarhar and Langhman, two much more impoverished and dangerous eastern provinces of Afghanistan where thousands of children live unsponsored.

Through their words and action, I hope to be able to capture the essence of these children, who live such different lives than the ones we know.

I have also arranged interviews with the many others involved such as those who manage/run the orphanages to members of parliament, educators and ambassadors.

At each orphanage I will enquire about ways you can become involved and post that information on this blog.

Please if you have any questions you may want me to ask the children or those caring for them please post them here. I would love to keep an open channel of communication and debate for everyone through this blog and a facebook group I will create so please utilize them for that. (Will post the group name as soon as it is created)

I will post comments, pictures, audio and video to both as often as I can, but please do bare with me if I do not reply to you right away as I will not always be in areas where internet is available.

Tashakour,

Natalie Carney