We checked in today with Dexter Filkins who was in Rome, en route to Kabul, to see how the young Afghan women were doing in the Marwais School. Dexter has raised more than $22,000 (up from $8,000) to help the girls recover from the Taliban attack and to purchase supplies for the school. He promises to keep us posted.
As you probably know, Dexter is the New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins, author of The Forever War. He is hard at work trying to raise funds and the global consciousness on behalf of Shamsia Hussein, the Afghan girl at the Mirwais School who was burned in an acid attack by the Taliban in Afghanistan – a child who had acid thrown on her just for attending school. We felt compelled to send money in February — and encourage you do, as well.
After receiving our check, Dexter wrote to us to say:
"You recently sent me a donation to help Shamsia Hussein and support the Mirwais School for Girls, where Shamsia and 1,500 other Afghan girls attend classes in very difficult circumstances. I have finally returned to the United States from Afghanistan and was able to open the many envelopes sent by people who wanted to help. I am happy to report that to date I have received 51 checks and one five-dollar bill, totaling $8,855. Incredible! On behalf of the girls at the Mirwais School in Afghanistan, and of Shamsia, thank you very much. I am sure they will be amazed and moved by your extraordinary generosity. I am a hard-bitten foreign correspondent, and I’m moved, too. I promise you I will spend your money wisely and humanely and make sure it does much good. The needs of the girls, as you can imagine, are basically bottomless."
To contribute to Dexter's efforts, email him: Filkins@nytimes.com.
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