# Operation Dreamseed

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{{Short description|US-based non-governmental organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Operation Dreamseed
| image               = 
| caption             = 
| abbreviation        = ODS
| formation           = 2004
| type                = [INGO](/source/International_nongovernmental_organization)
| status              = [501(c)(3)](/source/501(c)) non-profit organization
| purpose             = education
| headquarters        = [Rhinebeck, New York](/source/Rhinebeck%2C_New_York)
| region_served       = Underdeveloped nations
| membership          = 
| language            = 
| leader_title        = Executive Director
| leader_name         = Daya Watkins
| main_organ          = board of directors
| parent_organization = 
| affiliations        = Peace Through Art, <br> Help the Afghan Children
| budget              = 
| website             = [http://www.operationdreamseed.org/ www.operationdreamseed.org] (inactive)
}}

'''Operation Dreamseed''' was a [New York](/source/New_York_City)-based [non-governmental organization](/source/non-governmental_organization) that supported educational initiatives in underdeveloped nations. Founded in August 2004 by U.S. Army Major Todd Schmidt while he was deployed to [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan), the program delivered school supplies through American military servicemembers working with local residents.<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Cullum |title=The students and the soldier |url=http://www.centrevilletimes.com/news/2007/dec/01/students-and-soldier/ |work=Fairfax County Times |date=2007-12-01 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==History==
While patrolling from [Kandahar Airfield](/source/Kandahar_International_Airport) during his tour of duty, Major Schmidt, along with thousands of other American and Coalition troops, became aware of the dire conditions of the schools and the education system in the Southern Region.

Major Schmidt worked with the law firm of [Shearman & Sterling](/source/Shearman_%26_Sterling), LLP, to incorporate Operation Dreamseed in the State of New York.  Operation Dreamseed was officially incorporated on November 12, 2004.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Dougherty |title=Army captain's idea blossoms in Afghanistan |url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=25604&archive=true |work=Stars and Stripes |date=2005-01-13}}</ref> An initial grant of $10,000 was provided by Spirit of America in March 2005 for the organization to establish its operations on a larger scale and to accomplish its first large projects in [Kandahar](/source/Kandahar).<ref>{{cite web |title=Spirit of America - Projects - Operation Dreamseed in Afghanistan |url=http://www.spiritofamerica.net/cgi-bin/soa/project.pl?rm=view_project&request_id=29 |access-date=2008-02-11 |archive-date=2007-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031063009/http://www.spiritofamerica.net/cgi-bin/soa/project.pl?rm=view_project&request_id=29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Activities==
Operation Dreamseed's first action began with volunteers packing and shipping boxes of school supplies for military servicemembers to distribute in Afghanistan. In 2005, in cooperation with Help the Afghan Children,<ref>{{cite news |title=Afghan Children Inspire An American Soldier |url=http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org/our_current0606.html |work=Help The Afghan Children Newsletter |date=June 2006 |archive-date=2008-07-05 |access-date=2008-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705170505/http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org/our_current0606.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Operation Dreamseed helped renovate and rebuild Kohak Village Primary School in [Kandahar City](/source/Kandahar).<ref>{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=Glendenning |title=Soldier Sows Seeds of Better Education |url=http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=66600&paper=61&cat=104 |work=The Connection |date=2006-09-20 |archive-date=2011-07-18 |access-date=2008-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718164821/http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=66600&paper=61&cat=104 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2009, Operation Dreamseed completed work on building a basic science lab in Kandahar City at Aino Girls' School.

As Operation Dreamseed grew the organization spread its scope to [Iraq](/source/Iraq), [Kosovo](/source/Kosovo), [Nicaragua](/source/Nicaragua) and [Colombia](/source/Colombia).<ref>{{cite news |first=Bruce |last=Leshan |title=Planting Dreams For Children Of War |url=http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=65073 |publisher=WUSA |date=2007-11-09 }}</ref>

Operation Dreamseed also helped to launch a second international non-governmental organization, The changeIT Project in 2009, under the leadership of Christian Nielsen of Quinnipiac University.  The changeIT Project provides ESL grants to disadvantaged students in Nicaragua to assist them in attending school and learning English.

==Awards==
*2007: Microsoft Above and Beyond Everyday Difference Award<ref>{{cite news |first=Elizabeth M. |last=Lorge |title=Major Goes 'Above and Beyond' for Afghan Kids |url=https://www.army.mil/article/6066/major-goes-above-and-beyond-for-afghan-kids/ |work=Army News |date=2007-11-13 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [Education in Afghanistan](/source/Education_in_Afghanistan)
* [Help Afghan School Children Organization](/source/Help_Afghan_School_Children_Organization)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Children's charities based in the United States
Category:Development charities based in the United States
Category:Charities based in New York (state)
Category:Organizations established in 2004

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Operation Dreamseed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Dreamseed) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Dreamseed?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.