Shamim Jawad and Heidi Kuhn with the students of the Mir-Bacha-Kot school while they were studying under the tents.

The Mir-Bacha-kot School was built on the site of a former mine field in 2006 by Roots of Peace, a non-profit organization that removes landmines and returns land to agriculture. The Ayenda Foundation has partnered with Roots of Peace to build soccer fields alongside the new school building, so that where children once feared to tread they can now play and learn.

In October of 2006, during a trip to Afghanistan with Roots of Peace Founder Heidi Kuhn, Shamim Jawad attended the ground breaking ceremony for the school building. The building was built to replace the tents in which children previously studied under the hot summer sun with little protection from harsh winters. In 2006, Roots of Peace collected 1 million pennies raised by American students to finish construction of a 10 room school.

In partnership with Roots of Peace, the Ayenda Foundation is leveling land for soccer fields, erecting goals and providing uniforms and equipment for the students. The 100 children attending the school will be the direct beneficiaries, but the project will also indirectly benefit youth and adults in the surrounding community. The projected is scheduled to be completed in November 2007.

Shamim Jawad and Heidi Kuhn at the new site of Mir-Bach-Kot School