Afghan Embassy Posts Write Up About Clay's Visit

The Afghan embassy in Washington D.C. posted a great write up about Clay's spring 2007 UNICEF visit to the country. Clay traveled throughout Afghanistan during his trip to observe the programs UNICEF has put in place for Afghan children. He held a press conference in Kabul where he said that "Rebuilding schools, training teachers, providing essential supplies and teaching materials are just some of the advances UNICEF and its partners have made to keep that hope flourishing."

UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador and former star of American Idol Clay Aiken visited Afghanistan to create awareness about the promise of hope for the youth of this war-torn country.

Aiken visited schools in Kabul and the central province of Bamyan with the country’s representative for UNICEF Catherine Mbengue and Aiken’s own former teacher Mary Props.

“As a former teacher, I recognize that spark of hope and excitement all children possess when given the opportunity to learn,” said Aiken. “Rebuilding schools, training teachers, providing essential supplies and teaching materials are just some of the advances UNICEF and its partners have made to keep that hope flourishing.”

Aiken was elated to learn that over six million children are “piling into broken down buildings and UNICEF tents everyday to catch up on the lessons they have missed out on for years. That’s if they are lucky. Many, if not most, haven’t even the luxury of a tent. Just a dusty ground outside in one of the world’s most beautifully scenic landscapes. And still, they come to class. Many walk for miles; for hours…I have never in my life seen such a thirst and excitement for learning, seeing children, women, men, boys and girls to be so excited about learning, to be so excited about being in school. The people are perhaps its most valuable natural resource,” he said.