Nine-year-old beggar awarded for his birthmark of shape of Afghanistan

A 9 year old beggar Gran has been awarded hundreds of pounds, land and a bursary to study after it was discovered he had a birthmark on his chest resembling the map of Afghanistan.

He has become a celebrity in his town of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province, after the blotch on his body was first publicised last month.The family, which has been too poor to send Gran to school, have since been inundated with offers of help from patriotic well wishers.


Local businessmen have led the donations, with the Helmand Chamber of Commerce giving the family a grant of £900 so he can give up begging and then a further monthly donation until he has finished school.


Ali Ahmad Naseri, chairman of the chamber, said: "Every member of his family will be paid 5,000 Afghani (£62 pounds) each month till the time this boy gets to higher education." The family had also been given a plot of land to build a house, he said.


Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for the Helmand governor, said traders at a second hand car lot had spotted the birthmark after they told the boy to wash himself because he was so filthy.