Former Charleston resident returns from building a future for Afghan girls

Former Charleston Michelle Winston resident is eager to raise enough funds for her team to return to Afghanistan. Michelle Winston is still reeling from her first trip to the northern province of Jawzjan where she worked with the aid organization Solace International. Now, she is in the midst of the hardest part of her work: raising funds in the U.S. to see several projects completed by December. The Solace team will finish six schools for Afghan girls, and provide income to 35 women through organizing womens collective groups; increasing wages paid for textile production.

Charleston, SC May 21, 2004 - Former Charleston Michelle Winston resident is eager to raise enough funds for her team to return to Afghanistan. Michelle Winston is still reeling from her first trip to the northern province of Jawzjan where she worked with the aid organization Solace International. Now, she is in the midst of the hardest part of her work: raising funds in the U.S. to see several projects completed by December. The Solace team will finish six schools for Afghan girls, and provide income to 35 women through organizing womens collective groups; increasing wages paid for textile production.

Michelle is becoming something of an expert in the hand-made fiber art from Central Asian the Solace team sells to fund its work. Exotic carpets, jewelry and fine fabrics, from Afghanistan, India, and Nepal will be for sale at the historic Vendue Inn, May 30 - June 1st, 11 AM 11 PM. Private viewings are also available upon request. Before becoming a core member of Solace, Winston, in her thirties, helped manage the Vendue for relatives. Solace team member Stanfill Marcus Stanfill recruited Michelle in the spring of 2003.

Michelle has always been a mover and a shaker, said Stanfill recently. When I convinced her to come on board, I knew this project was going to make great strides.

By February of 2004, Michelle and a team of three other Solace workers had assembled in the northern Afghan city of Sheberghan, Jawzjan province. When they left Afghanistan in March, the team had launched a host of projects:
Established a field office and home near the citys central market
Start of construction work on two schools
Negotiated details for future school construction at four other sites in the province
Met and traveled with the governor of Jawzjan and a Sheberghan TV news crew
Met and commissioned work from 10 women artisans

We were all exhausted, and dusty, and a wreck by the time we left. says Winston We did a ton of work in just three weeks, but it felt great to get in there and get busy. I cant imagine doing anything more rewarding; I just love this work.

Press packets are available and include professional images of school construction and completion, students, and devastating effects of war. Interviews with Michelle Winston and other Solace team members are available in Charleston from May 20th June 15th.

For more information about the Afghanistan Girls School Project, and Solace International please visit our project website: www.solaceinternational.org.