The Children's Lives
From the beginning, both boys and girls have lived at the House of Flowers, growing up together naturally as brothers and sisters. We started with eight children in 2002 and have grown gradually over the years. As of August 2009 there are 25 children living at the House of Flowers. Of these, five are girls and twenty are boys.
All of the children are integrally involved in the running of the House. They learn how to cook and gain other vital household skills through their chores and responsibilities in the house.
Financial education is critical in a place like Afghanistan where poverty is rampant. Thus, the children receive a weekly allowance to gain experience with handling money responsibly. The children also run a ‘central bank’ in the house called “House of Flowers National Bank” where they can deposit their money and make withdrawals. They have a small shop in the house where they buy and sell snacks, school supplies and toys, and have established an in-house craft bazaar where they sell their own handiwork.
Education is not limited to academics, and the children are given
opportunities to explore the inner world as well as the outer. They
receive religious education in the tradition of Islam and
Afghanistan, but have also learned about other religions. They write
poetry, being inspired by great Persian poets such as Rumi and
Hafiz. They explore drama, acting out stories from their books.
Their exposure to geography is very important in order to raise
their awareness of other countries and cultures and to help them
gain a sense of love and appreciation for all human beings. They
show an inspiring understanding of the world and its inhabitants. 
