The father of all of us — Shogofa A.

Dear Mr. Ted,

Remember when I came to SOLA? You wondered why I’d chosen to come there and what I might do there, and why Ann Marlow had introduced me. I was so quiet back then. I didn’t talk because I was hopeless as an Afghan woman, and didn’t have the courage to defend myself. After joining your class I found my reason for coming to SOLA.

You taught me that no one gives me my rights—I have to fight for my rights myself. And not only for myself; I have to be strong enough to teach other women how to get their rights. When I came SOLA, you were the one who revealed my talent and showed me that I can do something. You taught me how to write and how to express myself. Besides learning English, you built my confidence, teaching me how to speak up and make decisions by myself. When I came to SOLA I didn’t have any plans to go to the United States. It was you who gave me hope that I could study there. Leaving my country was especially challenging but then I had the confidence you had given me. You were not only my teacher and boss, but someone who showed me what my responsibility was, and what I could do as a woman in my country.

Mr. Ted, I can’t find the word to describe you. I simple realize that my family taught me and raised me but you did more than they did by raising my confidence.

My family holds my hand to walk but you show me the way to go.

My family keeps me in a cage to be saved but you free me to fly.

SOLA is not only a school, it is like my family, where I can share my own happiness and sorrows together. I can’t forget a single moment I spent with SOLA. And I do remember your valuable words which give me the courage to achieve my goals. Wherever we are today we speak up—all because of you, Mr. Ted. You are the father of all of us, who cares for his children and shows them the way to success. Because you taught me how to stand on my own feet and build my confidence that I can accomplish things, we learn that SOLA HELPS THOSE HELP THEMSELVES. As your grandchild and according to our tradition of kissing our father and grandfather’s hand, so I kiss yours.

I really appreciate what you’re doing for all of us; we are a small group but big with the ambition to bring peace to our country.

I want to wish you a very Happy Birthday, Mr. Ted, and a successful life with full happiness. Keep smiling always because it gives us hope. I feel so lucky to have you as my grandfather.

Shogofa A.

SOLA Afghanistan

A precious gift from Roya E.

Please speak on my behalf on Mr. Ted’s birthday and please read with a very loud voice, the same as my pain’s voice, and let all know what SOLA means to me.

SOLA is house of silence for me, it is a school, a school of leadership to learn friendship and honesty toward each other. At SOLA there is a precious gift, a person whose name is Mr. Ted Achilles, a man who is special for everyone, who has a house in all SOLA students’ hearts.

For me, Mr. Ted is the shadow of my success, the mountain of support and the spice of my happiest moments. I have no more words to say but I can say, Happy Happy Birthday, Mr. Ted.

I want to tell nature and the world, “Hey world, be proud there is a man here who cares for others, I always remember January 14 as a golden bright day in my life.

With a heart full of wishes
Respect
Madam writer
The strongest Roya
SOLA Afghanistan

Thank you from St. George's

Ted,

Your work has made a difference for so many people throughout the
world.

Thank you for all that you have done and all you continue to do.

St. George's School wishes you a very Happy Birthday.

Your heart and will, from Anne O'B.

Ted has the instinct to identify leaders among the young. He has the heart and the will to arrange for them the best beginnings in education, a first step towards a difficult future, and to encourage them through rough spots. Most importantly he has imbued them with courage and determination to face a difficult future in Afghanistan. They know Baba Ted is there and will be there for them. Their love for him is the testament to his own hopes for them.

Anne Achilles O'Brien

Birthday message for Mr. Ted — Qasim M.

...pending...

Dear sir or madam,

My name is Qasim Moradzadeh. I was one of Mr. Axel's students at SOLA.
Attached to this email you can find my happy birthday message for Mr. Ted.
Please let me know if you receive this message.

Qasim

Kindness, love, and hope — Gina M.

Dear Mr. Ted,

My name is Gina Moore. I am Marzya's host mom from America. I want to thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to help Marzya and all of the other young people through Sola and Solace. You have shown them kindness, love, and hope for the future. I am thankful that I have had the fortune to meet a number of the young people that you have helped. I can tell that you have been a very positive encouragement in their lives.

I am thankful that Marzya is able to stay at Sola and continue to learn while we try to get her accepted into college here in America. Because Marzya is now at Sola, we are able to have better communication with her via computers (email and skype) that we could not have when she lived in her village. This will be important as we continue the process of acceptance to college and when Marzya goes to apply for her visa.

In closing, I wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! May God always bless you and keep you safe!!

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HELPING MARZYA!!

Sincerely, Gina Moore

A world of thanks from Shakila H.

It is a magic and a real blessing to encourage those who live with
discouragement, to motivate those who are wondering, and to bring
hope to those who are disappointed. It is the job of a real leader.

Ted, you are doing great with SOLA. I can see Afghanistan will
Have more leaders who will stay to build Afghanistan — not leave it.

Wish all of us to make a difference in Afghanistan like you do.

A WORLD OF THANKS!

Happy birthday, stay happy and healthy!

Shakila
SOLA Afghanistan

Ted's birthday wishes from Jill V.

Dear Ted,
When you gathered a bunch of us together in Brandon, VT in March of 2009, I was renewing my Afghanistan love affair that had been simmering for 30 some-odd years since my Peace Corps experience there. Hearing from the young Afghans and from you was inspiring. You spoke so well of why you were there and what needed to be done and how SOLA was making a difference.

I was there that day because of my young friend from Kabul whom you helped find her way to Middlebury College. Shabana Basij-Rasikh had told me the story of SOLA and how much it meant to her. As our friendship has grown over the course of her career at Middlebury, I've learned many other things from her and have you to thank for that. We have collaborated a few times to help the movie project raise awareness of the Afghanistan of the 60's and to raise some funds for a few agencies and individual students. I have seen and heard Americans' reactions to hearing her story. Her intelligence and commitment to her countrymen stand out. Many, many thanks for all you have done to support her and others like her.

Well wishes from all of us in Peace Corps Group 15, the vaccinators, and for a healthy, happy year.

Jill Vickers
"Once in Afghanistan" movie project

Truly inspiring — Todd S.

It is not often we find persons who are truly inspiring. As I've learned about Ted and his work from Terry, and had the chance to meet him briefly at Beacon Heights Church, I find myself very much inspired.

Ted's gift, though, is not in the inspiration that he himself provides, though that is large. The real gift is in the inspiration of the young Afghan women who are finding their voices and discovering their potential through SOLA, through Ted's dedicated work.

Bless you, Brother! The world needs more of you!

Todd Steele
Fort Wayne, IN

You mean a lot to all of us — Humira K.

Dearest Ted,

Happy Birthday means much more than have a happy day; within these words lie lots of things I never get to say. First of all it means you are very special to us.

Then thank you for all you do and you mean a lot to all of us. You may live thousands of years and each day with pleasure and lots of happiness.

Best,

Humira Karokhel
Sr. Program Assistant
UNDP/NABDP/MRRD
Darulaman, Kabul, Afghanistan
Web: www.mrrd-nabdp.org
SOLA Afghanistan