Afghan Children's Songbook Project

Hearing your favorite childhood song often conjures up happy memories. For a generation of Afghans whose songs were intentionally eradicated, hearing familiar childhood songs is a powerful experience and brings many to tears.

THE AFGHAN CHILDREN'S SONGBOOK PROJECT began when RPCV Louise Pascale recently found an old copy of a songbook she created while in Kabul in the 1960's. Fearing the songs would be lost for future generations, she vowed to return the songs to Afghan children. To date, over 14,000 copies of the songbook and recording are now in schools and orphanges across Afghanistan. Afghan teachers and children are thrilled to have access to these songs once again.

The newly published English edition, Children's Songs from Afghanistan: Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar, with English tranlstaion and transliteration of each song, liner notes and accompanying CD with Afghan children singing all the songs, is now available for $17.95 plus shipping. This is an excellent resouce for educators, music specialists, Afghan Americans families and anyone wanting to support Afghan children. All proceeds go to funding more songbooks in Afghanistan.

For more information about the Afghan Children's Songbook Project, to make a tax-deductible donation or to order a copy of Children's Songs from Afghanistan: Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar, go to:
http://www.facone.org/musicshop/afghan_book.htm
Folk Arts Center, 42 West Foster St., Melrose, MA 02176-3811. 781-662-7475.

To contact Louise, founder of the project, email: lpascale@lesley.edu

Louise M. Pascale, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Core Faculty

Creative Arts in Learning

Lesley University

1-800-999-1959X8992