2003
2004, with Shahin Shah
2006
MEPO
Medical, Educational and Peace Organization
Shukria
Shukria has always held a very special place at the House of Flowers and for the first two years was the youngest in the House. She and her two older sisters, Nadia and Razia, were the first children of the House of Flowers. They and their father had been living in the ruins of a bombed-out house in Kabul after their mother had died of heart disease just 3 months earlier. Little Shukria was not even 3 years old and would not talk.
But suddenly one day as we were leaving the
House, from the window we heard her small voice bidding us
good-bye! From that day on, Shukria became the darling of the House
of Flowers. She charmed all who visited, as well as the staff. She
amazed the teachers as she began to write and read by age 4, and was
obviously extremely gifted. Her sharp mind picked up ideas and
new concepts frighteningly fast; she began learning the Arabic of
the Koran, learned Pushto, a second language, and often taught her
older classmates new topics they were studying. By the time she was
5 she could read the newspaper fluently and with comprehension.
For a couple of years, Shukria had issues of anger and acting out. But she gradually outgrew this phase and began to mature rapidly, both looking and acting much older and having an easier time with her peers.
We continue to be amazed at the sharpness of her mind. Now Shukria is studying in 7th grade. She has immense potential, and has made life at the House of Flowers richer for all; we are thoroughly enjoying watching her grow in so many ways.
2009
Shukria in 2011