Part of the responsibility of promoting diversity in the classroom and the nation is helping others in need, whether they are part of the local, national or global community.  This call for international help can be met by participating in the Blue Pack Project, a program that provides blue backpacks filled with school supplies and a few simple toys for the neediest children in Afghanistan. 
 
The Academy for Educational Development (AED), the organization that heads this project, states that “more than 10 million children in Afghanistan suffer from the effects of multiple catastrophes. In the last 20 years Afghan children and their families have experienced war, earthquakes, displacement, economic deterioration, increased poverty, and drought. Today the Afghan people continue to face hardship, particularly the children” (http://www.bluepack.org/why.html).  Blue Pack aims to provide 200,000 of these back packs to Afghanistan’s children in order to alleviate this immense poverty. 
 
Each blue pack costs $10, and part of money is reserved for teacher training and other education rebuilding initiatives.  Students and classes can work with this project by helping AED raise funds for blue packs.  The AED has created a school fundraising kit to help classes create a campaign to raise money for these blue packs.  With it, English students can supplement their publicity efforts by writing news stories, press releases and public service announcements.  Social Studies students can take the time to research the history and economic background of Afghanistan to make a case for why aid to that country is necessary.  Math classes can pick a fundraising goal and learn how to manage the income as it arrives. 
 
Whether a it becomes a school wide project or simply a small class undertaking, this activity will give students a real and tangible connection to children from a third world country, and in that way, will become more compassionate and understanding to the plight of the people.