From Mines to Mittens...

Over 1000 hand-knit wool items (weighing over 250 pounds) — sweaters, mittens, hats, socks and vests — were made by hundreds of sincere Americans who wished to extend “hands across the ocean” to Afghan families who are in need of these hand-crafted items designed and knit from both heart and hands. In tribute to the tragedy of September 11, 2008, an effort was made by Roots of Peace who partnered with the local DHL representative at Bahia Vista Elementary School to transform “seeds of terror” into “seeds of hope” by packaging and sending these hand-knitted items—a “gift” from America to Afghanistan estimated at $10,000. 

October 2008 — Afghan children attending the Mir Botcha Kot School built by the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign join with their teachers as they open the boxes of "warmth" generously shipped by DHL from America to Afghanistan.

The Roots of Peace Penny Campaign has raised over 25 million “pennies” to build schools and soccer fields on former minefields in Afghanistan. So far, over seven (7) schools have been built and/or refurbished, as the American children strive to bring forth peace from the ground up!  

The tools of education are the pathway forward for peace, and the hand-knitted items provided by both Roots of Peace and Afghans for Afghans are a constant reminder for the importance of preserving culture for future generations.  

November 2, 2008 — A tribute to DHL. Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, California—Afghans for Afghans, Ann Rubin, Executive Director, and Roots of Peace, Heidi Kuhn, CEO, join in solidarity with the other “knitters” gathered for the Afghanistan Exhibition.  Both organizations gathered in tribute to the British and South African nationals who worked as Director and Deputy Director for DHL, who were tragically “gunned down” the previous Sunday.  Our gratitude and condolences go out to DHL ,an international shipping company based in Bonn, Germany, and their families as we strive to keep the gateway for import and export widely open—one stitch, one seed at a time.