Our volunteers are a vital to our success.
Ayni is largely volunteer operated and grassroots organization overseen by the newly hired executive director, Ginna Brelsford. Up until March of 2010, the organization was entirely operated by about 100 volunteers under the direction of its founder, Julia Bolz. Ms. Brelsford is the only paid staff member and is responsible for the executive function of the organization. Supporters of Ayni are not only interested in building Afghan schools but bridges of understanding between our cultures. They want to see peace within Afghanistan, as well as between our countries. Ayni volunteers give presentations across the U.S., including to public and private schools, civic and religious institutions, and nonprofits (like Rotary).
Afghan Management
Ayni’s main implementing partner is an Afghan NGO called Afghanistan-American Friendship Foundation (AAFF). AAFF’s Executive Director is an American named Van Hubbard, a professional engineer, who has lived with his wife, Janese (AAFF’s Chief Financial Officer), in Central Asia for 16 years. One of the most highly-respected development workers in Afghanistan, Van has extensive experience in helping communities identify and solve their own problems; he has worked many years in education and training; he speaks local languages; and he has managed a variety of development projects in Afghanistan, which involved multiple communities, NGOs, government authorities, and ethnic groups. Van has received an award from the Governor of Balkh Province for his outstanding work and contributions to the region. Given that this is awarded to only one person each year, this is quite an honor.
Van supervises a staff of Afghan professionals that include engineers, construction managers, project managers, and an office manager. They, in turn, hire dozens of Afghan workers who help with construction, well drilling, community development, and trainings. AAFF is one of only a handful of foreign NGOs that has been given permission by the Afghan Ministry of Education to build schools. Ayni and AFF have received numerous awards and acclamations from the Governor of Balkh Province, Afghan Ministry of Education, Afghan Ministry of Economy, and the Balkh Provincial Council for its work in Balkh Province.
