Special Projects

Solace for the Children operates the Solace Summer Program and the Solace Extended Program. We also stay connected with children as they return to Afghanistan. Once healthy, the most valuable gift to offer a child is education. This can be accomplished by placing a child in an Afghan school or helping to find the right educational experience for him or her in America.

Solace Summer Program
The Solace Summer Programs identifies children from throughout Afghanistan to come to America and live with host families for 6 weeks. Each child receives basic medical, dental and optical care throughout the weeks of the program. Each child requires a sponsor to help offset travel costs and a host family within a Solace Branch area. Solace Summer participants return to Afghanistan healthier and with a different, more positive perspective of America and Americans.

Solace Extended Program
The need is great in Afghanistan. The health of many children can be substantially improved within 6 weeks. For others, more time is needed, or the need is immediate. These children often qualify for the Solace Extended Program.

2009 Extended Children:

Khai and Khaleda each suffer from a condition known as beta thalassemia major. This is an inherited condition that affects the blood. Thalassemia patients must have a consistent influx of transfused blood in order to survive. Among other complications, these life saving transfusions bring extra iron into the body which is stored to the point of destruction in the child's organs. Nine year old Khai and 11 year old Khaleda are in constant danger of organ failure - massive heart failure or of having kidneys cease to operate properly. Treatment is long term and can include bone marrow transplant. Khai was featured in an article for People Magazine. Learn more of his journey by clicking here - http://www.solaceforthechildren.org/pdf/peopleMagKhaiStory.pdf.

Moska, Fakhreia and Marzya each needed life saving open heart surgery. While open heart surgery could never be described as simple, it is a common occurrence in America. In Afghanistan, we can find documentation of no other child receiving this level of treatment. Now each of these girls looks forward to a long productive life with the hope of a family of her own.

Najibullah and his brother were peddling a bicycle through the streets of Helmand on Election Day in Afghanistan when an incoming rocket cut them down. Najeeb's brother died on that street. Najeeb sustained serious shrapnel damage to his left leg, foot and eye. Treatment arranged by a British journalist was successful for his leg and foot, yet his eye was beyond Afghan capabilities. Solace brought him to NC where after undergoing multiple surgeries his eye was saved. Najeeb will return soon to learn how much sight he will retain.

Matibullah applied to participate in the summer program to correct a club foot. When his medical records and photos reached Solace doctors, they knew Mati could not wait until summer. An infection in a wound on his foot was infected and in danger of reaching the bone. Mati arrived in time! While the infection had reached the bone, intensive antibiotic treatment saved his foot and a wonderful surgeon corrected the problems with his foot.

Education Fund
Help Solace give an Afghan child the gift of education!