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Second Children’s Songbook “Awsaana See Saana” Distributed In Schools Across Afghanistan

Second Children’s Songbook “Awsaana See Saana” Distributed in Schools of Afghanistan with accompanying Teacher’s Guide

These days the children in Afghanistan have something to sing about.

The second edition of the Afghan children’s songbook, Awasana See Saana (One Tale, Thirty Tales) along with a Teacher’s Guide, is completed and distributed to schools and orphanages across Afghanistan.

This edition has 16 more traditional children’s songs in various ethnic languages of Afghanistan including Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki and Hazaragi.  The songbook includes a CD and audio cassette tape, as well as a small notebook and 2 pencils.  The Teacher’s Guide includes 5-6 lesson ideas for each song, providing teachers with ways to use these delightful songs to strengthen reading and writing skills.

A big thank you goes to Noorjahan Akbar for her musical direction and song compilation, Jamshid Sepand and Hasib Sepand for music arrangement, and the U.S. State Department plus other funders for their support and contributions.

The response from the Afghan community for this educational resource has been overwhelmingly positive.  Families love this book. Children come home singing the song and pass them on to their brothers, sisters and other members of the family.  Teachers are discovering new ways to engage the children in learning.  Rather than using routine techniques, they use the songs to interest children in learning to read and write.  The result is that children are more involved, more responsive and consequently more enthusiastic about school.

To date, 50,000 copies of the two songbooks, Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar and Awsana See Sana are currently distributed, as well as 7500 copies of Teacher’s Guides.

The Afghan Songbook and Literacy project was founded and is directed by Louise Pascale, a former Peace Corps volunteer.  This project could not happen without many dedicated Afghans.  Musician and composer Vaheed Kaacemy was instrumental in arranging, recording and compiling the songs for the first songbook.  TriVision, a media and design firm located in Washington, DC and in Kabul have, from day one, provided creative expertise and enormous support in the areas of the books’ design, illustration and publication.

To donate, arrange a school program in the U.S. or obtain more information about the Afghan Children’s Songbook Project, please contact Louise Pascale at info@afghansongbook.org  OR go to www.afghansongbook.org.