“PENNIES FROM LITTLE KABUL, USA TO KABUL, AFGHANISTAN”

AUGUST 12, 2009—FREMONT, CALIFORNIA—The U.S./Afghan business community is gathering in Fremont, California, to join forces with San Francisco Bay Area children who have raised over 30 million American “pennies” to remove landmines and build/restore schools and playgrounds. They are joining with the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign to help provide educational tools for success in Afghanistan where 44.6% of the population is under the age of 14 years.

The Fremont business community takes pride in joining the children’s humanitarian efforts through the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign, which was founded in 2003.  www.rootsofpeace.org  The event takes place as the historic Afghan Presidential elections approach next week (August 20, 2009). Fremont, California, is referred to as “Little Kabul” since it is home to the largest concentration of Afghans living in the United States.

Ms. Zarmina Wahid, Owner, The Salang Pass Restaurant, 37462 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, will gather community business owners and families on August 12, 2009 from 10-11 AM to distribute Roots of Peace Penny Canisters.  Her daughter, Ms. Marjon Ajami, who resides in Abu Dhabi, will join her mother and her own children to expand this international program to benefit the deserving students of Afghanistan.  In addition to “pennies,” their family will personally donate 100 new computers to Roots of Peace for the Mir Botcha Kot School—the first Afghan school built entirely by pennies raised from American children.  These Afghan students walk to school each day on the former frontline of The Taliban. “Their pathways to playgrounds were made safe by landmine removal,” says Heidi Kuhn, Founder and CEO. “Now, with computers, they will be able to communicate globally via e-pals.”

The American Community School in Abu Dhabi, spearheaded by Iranian-born Bahareh Sharghi, joined with children worldwide to collect their smallest denomination of coins to bring forth the “business of hope and change” for Afghanistan.  This was the first-ever penny initiative launched in the U.A.E. to benefit Afghan children, as over $1,600 worth of dirhams were raised in Spring 2009.  Their vision is to inspire children worldwide, as they contribute their smallest currency for peace! The additional money raised will help educate even more Afghan children, who are the future leaders of their country.  They realize that without education, there are no jobs.  Without jobs, young people may be tempted by false masters.

Roots of Peace was founded in September 1997 with clear mission to transform MINES TO VINES by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful agricultural crops in war-torn countries. Working to rebuild sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse, Roots of Peace empowers local communities scarred by remnants of war to cultivate a harvest of hope through the tools of agriculture and education.  See www.rootsofpeace.org and www.salangpass.com.

1299 Fourth Street, Suite 200 San Rafael, CA 94901 • Tel: 415.455.8008 • www.rootsofpeace.org