On the 13^th July, 2009 Debbie Locke and friends set off on the three hour journey to Sydney to deliver another load of  boxes of educational supplies to the DNSDC in Moorebank for delivery to Oruzgan Province schools. Included in these supplies were over 1500 exercise books and 2500 pencils, coloured pencils and crayons. There were also 65 soccer balls and over 350 tennis balls. It was with great pleasure we were able to assist Proserpine State School  who raised a colossal three boxes of pencils and rulers through their own efforts. These supplies have also gone off to be handed out to school children by Reconstruction Task Force and AusAid representatives in Oruzgan.

On the 10^th January 2009, Debbie Locke was invited to Admiralty House Sydney to meet Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. This was a great opportunity to discuss with the Governor General our objectives in Oruzgan which correlated with her own ideas of helping the plight of all women and children. While sipping coffee out of delicate china cups, Debbie was able to talk to both the Lt Gen David Hurley and Lt Gen Ken Gillespie about the situation in Afghanistan. It was also remarkable because the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd happened to drop in for a cuppa from next door. The message that was passed on from these gentlemen was that winning hearts and minds would be part of the battle in Oruzgan and humanitarian projects were very important in this process.

In November 2008 OPEF were able to help another organisation in Afghanistan. Mahoba’s Promise like many humanitarian organisations faces huge cost when delivering goods to Afghanistan. We were able to donate some beanies and scarves and help get them delivered to Hope House in Kabul. Following our own meeting with the Governor General she went on to meet with a representative of Mahoba’s Promise, Obaidullah Oriakhail.