Ali and his younger brother were ten and seven when their father began to show signs of dementia. Their lives had always been miserably poor. They lived in Farah Province, close to Iran and in the middle of a drug trade route. But when their father changed, things went from bad to worse. He took to drugs, and then to beating his wife Perry. When finally he disappeared completely, the boys and their mother found themselves in a tremendously difficult position. Khala Parri couldn’t even re-marry, and had no way to take care of her boys or provide even basic needs. Ali took to working in the streets, pulling in some bread here, a few Afghanis there. Parri began to experience blackouts, and considered suicide.

Khala Parri and her boys were brought to the attention of AFCECO as it was about to open its first orphanage in Kabul. Ali, at 12, had had no schooling when he came to Kabul, but he soon proved he was a sharp young man, jumping immediately from grade one to two. Khala Parri stood her ground as head house mother of the orphanage. She saw her boys growing, learning, taking responsibility, and this was proof enough of the wisdom of her decision. At 15 Ali had to walk through his own crossroad.

He wondered if all this schooling was worth it, he wondered if he should go to Iran and get some sort of job and support his family properly. But his mother convinced him to stay longer, as did the staff of AFCECO. A year later and Ali jumped yet another class to grade nine. He is 3rd position, and is also the star pupil in a medical training class given by a doctor in AFCECO’s clinic. He volunteered to take full charge of a huge public exhibition produced by AFCECO, and has been trusted and charged with possession of the key to the clinic. Ali has also joined an intensive English class in the orphanage, and has begun to realize that his future is indeed bright.

Today, Ali has emerged as a positive force in his family. It is easy to imagine where he would have gone if not to the orphanage. The Taliban recruit boys just like him, because they offer money, and because there is most often nowhere else to turn. Khala Parri no longer falls into her black spells, and she looks forward to the day when her sons succeed, go to university and become respected professionals.

KhKKhala is a term of endearment and respect for an older woman.