12.04.07 – Every time Shamim Jawad, wife of the Afghan ambassador, visits Afghanistan, she says that it is the children themselves who inspire her, despite their obvious hardships during and since the Taliban era. “The first thing I always notice is the children …their bright and curious eyes and their gentle, musical laughter.”

Haunted by these images when she is away from her homeland, Jawad decided she had to do something for these children who are the future of Afghanistan. With the help of some of Washington’s most powerful people, she created the Ayenda Foundation: The Afghan Children’s Initiative. “Ayenda” itself means “future” in Dari, the language of Afghanistan.

Ayenda just held its second annual benefit at the Afghan Residence with an impressive list of U.S. officials as guests: Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.), and former U.N. Representative Esther Coopersmith—along with gala co-chair Anita and Timothy McBride, co-founder of Ayenda and senior vice president of Freddie Mac.

“Afghanistan’s future depends on literate, educated and healthy children, especially girls,” said Dobriansky, also a member of the U.S. Afghan Women’s Council. “Ayenda not only enhances the welfare, education, health, shelter and safety of Afghan children, but encourages their artistic and athletic abilities too.”

Funds from this second annual gala will go to a learning center for an isolated orphanage, songbooks of traditional Afghan songs (which were lost under Taliban rule) and a soccer field.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, left, and Afghan Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad were among the guest at the second annual benefit dinner for Ayenda Foundation, which was founded by the ambassador’s wife, Shamim. Front page: Wife of the Afghan ambassador Shamim Jawad, left, and U.S. Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky attend the second annual benefit dinner for Ayenda Foundation held at the Afghan Residence. Photos: Embassy of Afghanistan