FEATURE: Japanese harpist's gift helps complete house for abused Afghan kids

A facility to protect abused children in the Afghan capital of Kabul has been completed thanks partially to a legacy of a Japanese harpist who once served as music tutor for Japanese Empress Michiko.

The newly constructed facility named ''Guru House'' is operated by Aschiana, an Afghan nongovernmental organization devoted to offering education and vocational training to orphans and street children in Kabul.

It is the embodiment of an idea long harbored by Aschiana representative Mohammad Yousef, who was having trouble raising funds for the house while he was forced to remove his house to make room for hotel construction.

However, a bequest of 10 million yen came to his office in the summer of 2005 from Japanese harpist Sumire Kuwajima from Kanazawa, who had left word before she died that year at age 69 that the money should be used for children of the South Asian country.

Aschiana utilized the money to purchase a plot of land measuring about 400 square meters and the U.S. military in Afghanistan shouldered the cost of building the facility as part of its support for the construction of the war-torn country.

The facility's name ''Guru'' means flower in Afghanistan's official language Dari. It was given to the house in connection with Sumire -- violet in English -- which was the first name of Kuwajima, who at one time privately taught the wife of Japanese Emperor Akihito to play the harp.

The house was inaugurated in February, equipped with 20 beds, a classroom and air conditioning system. Social workers trained in psychology are on hand to care for the children.

Samir Naweed, a 13-year-old boy, is one of the children under protection at the facility. Aschiana staff brought him to the house after learning that he was being beaten every day at the home of his uncle. He lost his father at a young age and his mother remarried when he was 7 years old.

Kuwajima's younger brother Masanao said his late sister had never visited Afghanistan. But, he added, ''My sister experienced war and I think she grieved at heart about the situation in Afghanistan. She's probably pleased that her will has been realized.''

Yousef said, ''The future of this country depends on children. I am very grateful (to Kuwajima).''

The number of street children in Kabul alone is said to total anywhere from 50,000 to 60,000. The abuse of children by parents emotionally suffering from the prolonged domestic fighting is said to remain unceasing.

A violet plant is drawn on the plate put up on the white hall of the house with hope that smiles will return to the kids' faces.