3.2.07 – Childrens’ Songs From Afghanistan to Debut at Afghan Embassy

On Friday, March 2, 2007, the Ayenda Foundation hosted a reception at the Embassy of Afghanistan to celebrate the publication of Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar: Children’s Songs from Afghanistan and honor its author Dr. Louise Pascale.

For many years, Louise Pascale dreamed of the songs she heard as a young volunteer in Afghanistan, songs that she feared had been lost forever. Today Ms. Pascale has partnered with a number of cultural organizations and talented Afghan artists to create a stunning book and melodic CD of songs that have been making expatriate Afghans long for their childhood and their country.

The songbook project began in 1966 when Ms. Pascale was a United States Peace Corps volunteer living in Kabul. During her service, Ms. Pascale worked with Afghan poets and musicians to create a children’s songbook to be distributed to the local schools. Almost four decades later Ms. Pascale made a commitment to return the songs, now almost completely lost from the culture, back to the children of Afghanistan.
The project was funded by the Ayenda Foundation, and the National Geographic Society. Through a partnership with these two organizations, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education, TriVision Studios and celebrated Afghan musician Vaheed Kaacemy, Dr. Pascale was able to make her dream a reality. Mr. Kaacemy has recorded 16 songs in Farsi, Pushto, Uzbeki and Hazara as an accompaniment to the songbook. Arsalan Lutfi, a talented Afghan graphic designer and President of TriVision Studios created the book’s attractive design.

For more information or to order the songbook, visit www.facone.org.