A School for Soraya
Tuesday, September 11 2007
A School for Soraya
Soraya was 6 years old on the day she walked to her school in Afghanistan and was told by the guard at the front door to "Go home - There's no school." Her family didn't realize it, but the Taliban had closed the schools. When they reopened, Islamic studies were taught, and only to boys. Soraya's parents were determined to educate her and so, despite a great risk, they taught Soraya at home.
Soraya and Sally Goodrich
After 9/11 and the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, girls were allowed to attend school again. But the schools were largely under-funded. A U.S. Marine, Rush Philson, was stationed in Afghanistan and saw how hard people were working to get their schools running. He wrote a letter home explaining how badly the schools needed help. That letter was read by the mother of Philson's childhood friend, Peter Goodrich.
Peter was on one of the planes flown into the World Trade Center. Peter's mother, Sally, says the letter gave her a new purpose after her son's death. She now raises money to build schools in Afghanistan, and to bring Afghan students to study in the U.S.
Dick Gordon talks with Sally, and with Soraya, who is now in the U.S. continuing her education.
- See pictures of Sally in Afghanistan and Soraya in the U.S.
- Hear excerpts from the speech Soraya gives during presentations with Sally
- Learn more about the Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation
Views from the War
On the day after Gen. David Petraeus testified before Congress, Dick Gordon talks with three Iraq War veterans - Air Force Lt. Col. Polly Montgomery, Marine 1st Sgt. Yolanda Mayo, and Marine Gunnery Sgt. Rosie Noel.
Today, they tell their personal stories of what they've seen on the front line of the war.
Tomorrow we will hear more stories, and their reflections on the role of women in the military.
They are joined by Kirsten Holmstedt, author of the book "Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq."
- Find out more about the book
- Read Kirsten's blog
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