Support despite the Taliban regime - 60,000 euros in donations at Afghanistan Day

Created: 06/15/2022, 07:00

By: Volker Camehn

A young patient on the sickbed in Chak-e-Wardak.

© Uli Reinhardt

The hospital project, which has been supported by the Gymnasium Oberhaching for over 30 years, is far from over.

This year, 60,000 euros were raised on Afghanistan Day.

Oberhaching

– It never seems to work entirely without criticism.

"We are sometimes accused of supporting the Taliban system with our commitment," says Ludwig Pichler.

Pichler teaches history and is a member of the school board at Oberhaching Gymnasium.

And above all, he is the chairman of the association Hospital Project Chak.

He and his fellow campaigners regularly collect money for this on a voluntary basis.

5000 kilometers as the crow flies from Oberhaching

The hospital in Chak-e-Wardak is about 65 kilometers from the Afghan capital Kabul.

Here, about 5,000 kilometers as the crow flies from Oberhaching, only Afghans work, a team of almost 70, including 17 women.

Of course, all this costs money: the maintenance of the hospital amounts to between 500,000 and 600,000 euros per year, almost half of which is attributable to the salaries of the employees there.

On average, 650 inpatients are cared for here every month, 70 percent of whom are women and children, according to the project homepage (www.chak-hospital.org).

Project has been running for 32 years

The Oberhachinger educational institution plays a very important role here: the 900 or so high school students get around 50,000 euros a year, the rest is financed by nationwide donations collected by the sponsoring association.

The Oberhachinger's help has a long tradition: Pupils and parents have been collecting for a good cause here for 32 years.

At the beginning of June there was again a colorful Afghanistan day at the high school, an event that has a permanent place in the Oberhaching calendar of events.

This year's motto: "The chak must go on!" Loosely translated: The hospital must go on.

And how to proceed.

According to Pichler, around 60,000 euros were collected this year through all sorts of colorful campaigns.

Taliban takeover changes nothing

What seems like a small miracle: Even since the Taliban took over power, hospital operations have been running smoothly, as Ludwig Pichler explains.

"We've been working with the Taliban for a long time, so diplomacy is important.

We have maintained close, good contact for years and they also know how important this hospital is for the people in the region.”

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And how does Ludwig Pichler answer the accusation that the Taliban regime is being supported with this aid project?

"We're helping the people here, not the regime.

Everyone is treated here, no matter where someone comes from, what religion and what gender they have.” Neutrality is a requirement.

Also: "What would be the alternative?"

Afghanistan day

is the charity project from Oberhaching.

At the annual event, students, parents and teachers from the Oberhaching high school set up the sale of culinary delicacies, a variety of play stations, a charity run, an auction and much more.

With the money raised, every single visitor supports the continued existence of a hospital in Chak-e-Wardak, Afghanistan.