The Spectrum

Family helps Afghan children

BY TIFFANY DE MASTERS • TDEMASTERS@THESPECTRUM.COM • JANUARY 9, 2010

ST. GEORGE - When people think of Afghanistan many think of war and terror. Mark and Stephanie Bridges think of the children.

After being unemployed for several months, Mark Bridges landed a job as a civil engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers. He's been stationed in Southeast Afghanistan since August 2009.

Mark Bridges' job is to build roads, schools, wells and whatever else he's asked to build. He wrote it's noteworthy that aside from asking for chocolate, most children on the street will ask for pens, pencils and paper.

"When I first arrived here, a co-worker showed me how he was providing children with shoes, often at his own expense," Mark Bridges wrote in an e-mail. "My co-worker's example coupled with my belief that education and sustainability in Afghanistan begins with the younger generations are what caused me to act in their behalf."

He added he thinks the youngest generations of Afghan people need help cultivating a desire to learn and a desire to fulfill their potential.

"If achieved, in general this will change their entire country and its condition," Mark Bridges wrote.

Stephanie Bridges, currently living in Santa Clara, is helping her husband collect basic school supplies.

She added when her husband would go into the schools, he told her the children have nothing.

"The kids just need the basic things," Stephanie Bridges said. "This is one way we could support the children."

Through tears, she added it's an honor to serve the children.

"It just brings tears to your eyes because they're (children) so excited about getting crayons," Stephanie Bridges said.

Over the Christmas holiday Stephanie Bridges mailed out nine boxes. The supplies are rotated between a girl's school, boy's school and the Afghan National Police.

Mark Bridges is contracted to work in Afghanistan until September 2010. The plan is to continue sending supplies until then.

Mark Bridges said at this point he's still collecting supplies and hasn't distributed anything yet.

"However I have seen how a gift like shoes or simple crayons and paper can brighten childrens' eyes," Mark Bridges wrote in an e-mail.

He added being in Afghanistan, and seeing the children in the conditions they have to live in has opened his eyes to how some other people in the world live.

"I'll never be able to look at the world in the same way again," Mark Bridges said.

Stephanie Bridges said this is such a simple thing, to give $50, $60, $1,000 in comparison to what the people of Afghanistan have.

"It's been a great project," she said. "I love it. It makes you feel like you're contributing to the children directly."

To help Mark and Stephanie Bridges in their effort to serve the children in Afghanistan contact Stephanie Bridges at 673-2907 or by e-mail at stephanie.bridges100@gmail.com.