Mahbooba, whose name means “loved one” in Farsi, is a young girl in Watan Orphanage who has melted the hearts not only of her friends but also of her entire school with her extraordinary talents and admirable conduct.  Mahbooba is from Nooristan, a remote area by the Himalayan Mountains where, according to analysts,  is the most backward areas in Afghanistan .  When Mahbooba was taken to Watan Orphanage 4 years ago the new surroundings were entirely alien to her. This 11 year old girl, who could speak neither Farsi nor Pushto (the common languages in Afghanistan ) now heads her entire school with her incredible academic record. Despite being younger than other children, she has been elected the current President of Watan Orphanage thanks to her charm, her strong powers of leadership and her excellent communication skills.

Ahmed Shah-otherwise known as the “little pop singer” is our latest  Child SpotLight! He has a wonderful voice and is an excellent singer. He and his brother Zahir Shah were shepherds before coming to the orphanage. He used to sing to himself all the time while looking after the livestock. A few months ago when one of the orphanage coordinator’s went to Afghanistan , he visited Ahmed Shah's parents. It was a two hour hike through desert to reach their tent. When they were told about Ahmed Shah and his brother, both mother and father wept with joy! They were so pleased to learn that their sons were healthy and being educated. They could not imagine that their children were seen on television by thousands of fans-these young boys who used to take care of 200 hundred goats in the mountains have really rebuilt their lives into something different with the help of AFCECO and their sponsors from CharityHelp International.