Actual Size's group members use funds raised through creative benefits, especially the sale of photography, video, and artwork, to travel into regions affected by natural disaster, war and poverty. In these areas, Actual Size uses the proceeds of its fundraising to help directly in the field by improving and rebuilding schools, providing educational supplies and materials, establishing scholarship funds and helping heal the communities with direct interaction.

Our main objective is to raise funds to help educate, support and purchase essential life necessities for children that are directly affected by natural disasters, poverty and war throughout the world. Additionally, we aim is to bring awareness to the actual size of global issues affecting the children of our world today.

Actual Size's founder, Suhail, was inspired by Greg Mortenson's book Three Cups of Tea to visit the Afghan mountain village of Korphe where the book was set and to document his experience through his photography.

In July 2007, Suhail traveled through Pakistan and headed north up to Afghanistan with an organization called CDRS whose primary focus was in Chikar. While there, Suhail was able to witness the terrible devastation that the earthquake of October 8th 2005 had caused. He was struck by how eager the children were to learn despite their lack of resources and the devastated infrastructure. He realized that the actual size of this catastrophe was much greater than he had originally thought and he recognized an imminent need in Chikar to create school projects for young children.

Since returning to the States in the fall of 2007, Suhail has organized events raising over $20,000 both through the sale of his photography and through other creative benefits and fundraisers. Suhail returned again to Chikar in July of 2008 and used the money to build schools as well as supply existing schools with computers, science laboratory equipment, kitchen equipment, bedding, and other necessary supplies.

Africa • Angola