Portland Man Brings Light to Afghanistan

Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti Invests in the Next Generation.

Photos by: Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti knows firsthand what a difference education can make in a life. Born to a family in the nomadic Kuchi tribe in Afghanistan, Kharoti is now a doctor of nuclear medicine at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Portland, Ore.

“My father was a simple nomad with only a few camels,” Kharoti says. “He died not being able to read. My mother is still living, but she can not read. Because of a family in the United States, I was able to get an education and become a doctor. Three of my children are now studying in the best schools around the world. All of this prosperity and opportunity came in the light of education!”

A man of small stature, Kharoti speaks gently about himself and his family, but a fire is kindled behind his eyes and he waves his hands animatedly as he talks about the importance of education.

“Education is the key to fight terrorism, the darkness of ignorance, to build bridges, to go forward hand in hand,” Kharoti says. “Without education it is difficult to build bridges, to build airplanes, to communicate. Without education it is difficult to understand other countries and cultures. All of these things can only be understood through the light that education brings.”

Kharoti believes that the ignorance of the Afghan people caused them to fall victim to the influence of the Taliban regime. He said that ignorance is the biggest enemy of the world and education is the best bomb to use to defeat terrorists.

“The Taliban took advantage of our hospitality because we had no understanding,” Kharoti said. “I want our people to be educated so no one can be used the way we were used on September 11. I do not want to see this happen in our country or any other country.”

In 2001, before the attacks of 9-11 when the Taliban was still in control of Afghanistan, Kharoti visited the country and begged Taliban leaders to allow him to open a school for girls and boys in Shin Kalay (Green Village), a village in the area where he grew up.

“I asked them,” Kharoti said, “‘If you had a sick family member, your daughter or your wife, would you want them to see a male or a female doctor?’ They said they would rather have their female family members see a woman doctor of course. I told them, ‘That is why we need to have school for girls as well as for boys.’”

The school began with 10 boys and quickly grew to 15 girls and 60 boys. The school was modest, to say the least. Students sat through lessons outdoors in the scorching Afghan heat memorizing their lessons due to a lack of pencils and paper. Students scooped water from a nearby ditch for drinking and washing and there was no electricity. Kharoti placed heavy emphasis on an English curriculum from the beginning.

“English is the language of science and medicine and communication between countries,” Kharoti said, “and many of the books that are donated to the school are in English, so it is very important for the students to learn English from the beginning.”

Since the school’s modest opening in 2001, Green Village School has grown to accommodate 1100 students. Through donations to the Green Village School project, many from generous Oregon contributors, the school has gained new classrooms, desks, school supplies, books, music equipment, electrical generators and an electric well which supplies a continuous supply of fresh, clean drinking water.

“It is important for the people to see this side of America,” Kharoti said. “It is one thing for the people here to see a Humvee in the street. It is another to see their children sitting on desks from America. I want to see them walk in the library and see rows and rows of books from America that will last years and years.”

Kharoti sees the Green Village School project as a way to show his gratitude for the opportunities he was given and share his blessings with the people from his home country. “I was so poor growing up,” Kharoti said. “I could never have become a doctor on my own. But thanks to the help I received from friends in the United States I have prospered and now, thanks to my work, 1100 more boys and girls will walk into the light of education.”

Dr. Kharoti believes firmly that it is important to educate both genders in any society and says that educating girls provides more long-term benefits for Afghan society than educating boys only. Educated women can teach their children about the world and how to tolerate and respect people from all different cultures and countries. Today the school teaches nearly equal numbers of Afghan boys and girls.

“An educated mother has great influence on a child. The mother is with the child from the crib. Children are closer to their mother than their father when they are young, she teaches them about economics, peace, all things,” Kharoti said. “She is the light of the house. In Afghanistan we have a saying, ‘If a wife dies, the light goes out of the house.’”

Kharoti recently visited the Green Village School to assess its progress and needs. He wants to expand the school to include 12 new classrooms, a library, a computer lab, and sanitary bathrooms with flushing toilets and running water. Visiting the school was difficult due to recent security threats. In February bomb threats forced the school to close temporarily. Kharoti was not sure he would be able to visit the school due the security situation and insurgent threats against his life. He says it is very difficult for him to travel to his old home without a military escort.

“The security posture is necessary to make Afghanistan’s schools safe. All nations who support and care about Afghanistan’s children must fight terrorism and support education,” Kharoti said.

Kharoti also said that gaining support from the village elders in Green Village is vital to the success of the school. The school serves as a community center for important holidays, weddings and other celebrations. It has a mosque on the grounds where villagers can go to pray. The school was used as a voting center in the last parliamentary election where thousands of people, including 4,000 women, came to vote. The multi-purpose function of the school ensures the support of the elders in the community who can negotiate with Taliban to keep the school safe.

Kharoti was able to secure $70,000 in additional funding from the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V Commander’s Emergency Response Program. Task Force Phoenix V is commanded by the 41st Brigade Combat Team based out of Oregon. The task force is made up of servicemembers deployed to Afghanistan from 49 states, with more than 800 from Oregon.

“It’s neat because we can stay in touch with this school even when we redeploy,” Maj. Robert Fraser, task force Civil Affairs Officer said. “There will always be a piece of Oregon here in Afghanistan.”

“Ten years from now these children will be standing with you side by side,” Kharoti said. “One child will grow to meet with senators and he will come from this school. He will tell them about what America did for him. I hope I will be alive when this dream comes true. This will be an example for all of Afghanistan that we are for understanding. We are not against any particular religion. We are for cooperation, understanding, tolerance and respect. Children with this kind of education will become candles, the light at the end of the tunnel.” If you would like to learn more about the Green Village School or ways you can help support Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti’s work, please visit greenvillageschools.org or write to: Green Village Schools, Inc., P.O. Box 80061, Portland, OR 97280.