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Subscribe to RSSSeattle resident Betty Tisdale, who runs an orphanage in Afghanistan, has opened the country's first licensed nursery for orphans in the hopes that children who have had a very rough start will have a bright future. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
By Atia Abawi, NBC News correspondent
Betty Tisdale, 89, is on a mission to help children around the world.
“I feel that there is nothing impossible to do. And a war isn’t going to stop me,” Tisdale said adamantly, sitting in the nursery she helped open in Afghanistan’s capital.
In June, Tisdale, who lives in Seattle, took her third trip to Afghanistan where her grassroots organization Helping And Loving Orphans (HALO), is helping some of the country’s most vulnerable. Partnered with a non-governmental organization, PARSA, they support the House of Flowers Orphanage in Kabul.
On this trip, Tisdale’s main mission was babies. The money she brought in from donors, including third graders near Seattle who raised $1,354, was to open Afghanistan’s first-ever licensed nursery.
“I want to be able to help them,” she said. “It could be the beginning of something really special in Afghanistan.”
When Tisdale was a young girl her mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis and placed in a sanitarium. Later, her father died when she was only 9 years old. Relatives stepped in to raise her after she and her siblings were split up.
“I’m not dwelling on that,” she told NBC News, in high spirits as she explained why she chooses to assist orphans in foreign countries.
“Orphans overseas don’t always get adopted. And they don’t have a foster home to go to in the next two years,” she said. “What they need most is that feeling of being loved for who they are, not because they are an orphan.”
So Tisdale is providing love everywhere she can, and has been doing it since 1961.
She organized the baby lift in 1975, just days before the fall of Saigon and the end to the Vietnam War. Tisdale helped evacuate 219 Vietnamese orphans, brought them to the United States and found them all homes within a month.
Since then she has opened orphanages throughout the world including in Vietnam, Mexico, Haiti, Nepal and Colombia.
And when asked how she is able to sponsor all these projects, her answer was simple: “I’m a great beggar. I really am.”
We didn’t see her beg on the Afghan streets but we did see her in action bargaining at the baby shops in Kabul. And she’s definitely not afraid to tug on some heartstrings.
“These babies have no mother, no father,” she would say, leaning over the counter as she spoke to the store clerks. To help orphans in many countries, every penny counts.
Some of the clerks were so moved by Tisdale’s story they told her they would speak to their storeowners to donate supplies to the nursery for the Muslim religious obligation of zakat, helping those less fortunate.
Tisdale has many reasons for helping these orphans and one of them is to help Afghanistan gain bright leaders that can one day save a nation in turmoil.
“These kids will never go to war, they’re going to be too smart for it,” she said.
Those she works with gave us a more ominous reason for why more Americans should care about Afghan children.
“Although our politicians say Osama bin Laden is gone, what created Osama bin Laden is not gone at all,” Marnie Gustavson, Executive Director of PARSA, told NBC News.
As for Tisdale, she promises to come back to Afghanistan next year to check the progress of the nursery and orphanage. She said she would continue to come every year, even after American troops withdraw.
"If you get to know the people, you get to know the children, how can you just say, 'Okay the war is over.'" she said. "I'm not here because of the war anyhow."
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Thank you for helping children who are in the search of food and shelter:)
Good Evening Mr.Williams, a fine Friday broadcast as always.
First of all in regards to this posting and the "Making A Difference" segment by Atia Abawi about Betty Tisdale who will turn 90yrs old this year was extremely heartwarming and showed how much one person can do to help children have a brighter future even though the region around them is in turmoil. Perhaps they will be able to stop the seemingly endless conflict withing the country of Afghanistan. Her organization called HALO, Helping and Loving Orphans along with PARSA a non governmental organization helping support the House of Flowers Orphanage in Kabul is showing that as she states, "Nothing is impossible to do. The war isn't going to stop me" She is truly remarkable having endured much hardship and heartache with her mother being diagnosed with tuberculosis and her father who died when she was only 9yrs old. As she had to be raised by relatives being a orphan herself. Helping children find homes since 1961 organizing the baby lift at the Fall of Saigon and in the future years opening up orphanages all over different parts of the world. Hoping she can return to Afghanistan next year to check on the progress orphanage and nursery. Her work will continue even after the US Troops withdraw. A wonderful lady.
On another note it was wonderful to see Richard in the studio! Richard's report about Syria showed how violence by the Assad regime continues with so much loss of life. Hearing about another attack by the Syrian militia upon a village was horrible. The activist speaking about the shelling, artillery fire and planes firing rockets into the village was terrible. Such atrocities being done by the Syrian militia and the United Nations is helpless to stop it. The news of the chemical weapons being moved to another secure location is disturbing. As Richard stated if the Syrian Forces ever used the weapons they would be crossing line. Time will tell. One hopes for peace.
Excellent Reporting on Syria all week Richard! Along with Rock Center too!
The report by Tazeen Ahmad from London showed how security is top priority in making sure London is secure safe for the Olympics. The buildup of the police, RAF helicopters, a Navy ship along the Thames and more Troops reveal how nothing will be overlooked for these Olympic Games. They cannot afford a mistake and hopefully everything will be peaceful. They have a massive security plan in place to make the city safe.
Interesting to learn about the solar flare headed towards the earth. A truly major solar flare.
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Have a wonderful weekend! Peace to You and to All!
Be Well Everyone!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard! Wonderful to see you on the studio!
Take Extra,Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
Lisa
This woman is an incredible inspiration and should be sainted for the work she is doing. Perhaps the politicians in Washington who spend all of their time bickering should learn a lesson from her about doing the right thing for those in need. I hope President Obama hears this story and gives her the recognition she deserves. There's a Nobel Peace Prize waiting for this woman!!
good news!
what created bin ladin? islam did, and he has vast majority of muslims supporting him, including the paskitani govt and its army. and yes, islam is not gone, but should go.
lighten up a bit will ya?
We need more good people like her in this world and less evil minded animals!
I am amazed by this story. It shows what just one person can do to make a big difference in a positive way.
What a remarkable woman this is to have such compassion for these children. At her age, this is what keeps her going. I just hope that it remains safe as the militants tend to destroy everything that means progress.
While I think that what she is doing is amazing and wonderful, I can't help but worry about some Taliban idiot driving by and shooting this poor lady for her efforts. Sometimes we in the US forget that they play by different rules in other places. So please keep safe and alert while you are over there Betty. Good luck!
Great story on Betty and her work. I had the privilege working with Betty before and when HALO was just started. Learned a lot from her and inspired by her.
Thanks for all you do, Betty.
Son Michael (Kids Without Borders)
good job
Free decapitations for everyone!!!!
Betty is truly a modern day saint. She will be 90 this month. Consider sending a donation to HALO "Helping and Loving Orphans" for Betty's Birthday. If you can't send a donation, please find a cause you are passionate about and donate your time in honor of Betty. Check out her facebook pages for Betty Tisdale and Halo.
I sent a large box of school supplies to the HALO organization in Afghanistan. I followed the instructions on Betty Tisdale's website for sending the supplies and addressed as listed on the site: Marnie Gustavson, PARSA, APOEA 09356.
It was returned to me. If it would have any bearing on the delivery, it was stamped "Security OA? X-Rayed-2."
Does anyone have a good APO address in Afghanistan where I can send these school supplies? You can e-mail me at: Trail213@msn.com with any info you might have. I would like to get these supplies in the hands of people who can use them.
Thank you.