>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. let's start with our top story. >> we often hear about afghanistan. it's a country in the middle east that was taken over by an extremist religious group called the taliban. the taliban created harsh laws that greatly restricted the freedom of the people. they also allowed afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorists, especially those terrorists who attacked the united states on 9/11.

shortly after the attacks in 2001, president bush sent our military to afghanistan. they forced the taliban to flee. under a new, more democratic government, life began to improve for the afghanis. [ piano playing ] while the taliban ruled afghanistan, a scene like this would have been unthinkable. that's because music was forbidden. >> it was illegal to listen to music, to perform it, to enjoy it. and so that was very discouraging for many musicians. many musicians fled afghanistan. they stopped playing music. >> life was even harder for girls like freshta. they couldn't go to school, play sports. they couldn't even go outside unless completely hidden beneath clothes from head to toe.

freshta's mother saw music as a way to accomplish that. >> and so since 2001, people have been struggling to find the best way to bring it back. >> the documentary "dr. sarmast's music school" tells the story of bringing music back to afghanistan, and not just traditional music, but all kinds of music. >> bach, beethoven, mozart. it doesn't belong to europe. it doesn't belong to america. they belong to all world. and i want afghan kids to have access to the musical heritage of the world. >> and that's how the afghan youth orchestra was born. kids who never heard music before, or had to listen to it in secret, are now learning to be musicians. and they're learning to be world travelers, as well. their music program has been so successful that some of the afghani musicians were invited

to come to the u.s. to put on a major concert with american students. we'll tell you about that when "teen kids news" returns. we'll be right back.

>> we're continuing our coverage of what may be called a musical miracle -- visiting teens from afghanistan getting the chance to play music side by side with american high-school students. as daniella reports, while these young musicians from two countries started off worlds apart, they quickly came together while preparing for a very special musical performance. >> for these afghan kids, coming to america is a dream come true, but the nightmare of those terrible years under the taliban is not easily forgotten.

>> both boys and girls who decide to study music or listen to music or enjoy music have often faced discrimination and discouragement. girls, in particular, face a lot of discouragement from even going to any kind of school. so anyone studying music, it's a risk. and for a girl to be studying music, it's a double risk. and so our girls are very courageous, and we're very proud to stand by them and support them and see them breaking barriers day after day. >> teacher and conductor william harvey is breaking other barriers, as well. he's created special arrangements that combine our classical instruments with afghan folk instruments. students from new york's scarsdale high school are finding the experience noteworthy on many levels.

>> it's a really great opportunity to both learn about each other's cultures and to have both cultures really appreciate how similar we all are and how we can communicate through the universal language of music. >> you do eighth notes. you do quarter notes. you do eighth notes. and i'll do sixteenth. >> well, i've always been told that music is the universal language, and until now, i haven't really been able to experience that. i've learned how similar we are as people. >> while touring the u.s., the afghanis stayed with american kids. they got a taste of our popular foods, as well as a slice of life in america. >> how are you enjoying playing with the americans? during their trip, the afghanis visited washington, d.c. they toured the national museum of natural history, met a senator, dined in a diner, as

well as in a typical american home, and even learned to play wii. but no doubt the highlight was a sold-out concert at the world-famous carnegie hall. [ middle eastern folk music plays ] they played traditional folk songs and western classics, ending with a crowd favorite ravel's "boléro." [ ravel's "boléro" plays ] so, the next time you complain about having to practice piano or flute, remember in some parts of the world, music isn't just music. it's the sound of freedom. [ music ends ] [ cheers and applause ]

>> which u.s. state had a state flag before it was even a state? keep watching, and you'll find out.

>> the tallest building in our part of the world is getting closer to opening, but what makes this building special isn't its height, but what it represents. one world trade center is rising from the ashes of the 9/11 terrorist attack in new york city. this was all that was left of the famous twin towers that gave the area its name -- the world trade center. the terrorists were able to destroy those original towers, but they couldn't destroy our national resolve to rebuild and to honor those who lost their lives in the attack. in fact, one world trade center will reach a symbolic height. just as 1776 is an important date in american history, 1,776 is precisely how tall the new building is -- 1,776 feet. one world trade center will also

have an observatory open to the public. you can expect it'll become a very popular tourist attraction. >> this report is sponsored by the american civil liberties union. it's more than 220 years old, but the constitution is as important as ever. it not only set the framework our government and legal system still follow to this day, it continues to protect the basic rights of we the people. >> what about my privacy? >> it's protected. >> and the music i listen to? >> protected. >> in this public service announcement, celebs melissa benoist, lucas neff, and nick robinson are helping to remind people that september 17th is constitution day. it's a national holiday celebrating the signing of the constitution in 1787. >> what about how i wear my hair? >> and the things i say and write? >> the constitution protects your rights. >> it isn't an old, fading piece of paper. >> it's a living document. >> every september 17th, teachers and students across the

country focus on the history and meaning of our constitutional rights. >> constitution day is important because it helps us appreciate democracy. >> because it makes us remember that we have freedom, equality, and justice. >> because it reminds us how lucky we are to live in america. >> find out how you can become part of constitution day. >> it's easy. go to... it's an interactive website with lots of activities and games. it also includes a competition where you can win money for your school. >> for me. >> all: for all! >> for real. >> remember constitution day is september 17th. for "teen kids news," i'm diyu. >> ever take a close look at your state flag? you should because you might be surprised at how much you can learn from it. here's brandon with this week's lesson.

>> california's state motto is "eureka!" which is greek for, "i found it!" the motto dates back to the gold rush of 1849. california had gained independence from mexico the year before, but it was not yet a state. ironically, though, it already had a flag. >> what i find to be most unique about the california flag is how it came into existence. it was actually the product of a rebellion. there were pioneers out there trying to settle the land. there was an attack on a fort at sonoma, and the american settlers were able to take the fort. and a fellow by the name of william todd got himself a white bed sheet, a couple of cans of paint, and he painted the original bear flag, which is still today the flag of the state of california. >> that revolt became known as the bear flag revolt. the bear symbolized strength. the star was a reference to the lone star of texas. the californians saw texas as an ally in their struggle with mexico.

the original flag was destroyed during the san francisco earthquake of 1906, however early photos of it still existed. and a slightly modified version became the official state flag in 1911. by the way, william todd, the pioneer who drew the flag on a bed sheet, was the nephew of mary todd, abraham lincoln's wife. with "flag facts," i'm brandon. >> next we'll find out what teens really want to be when they grow up. >> be sure to tune in to "teen kids news" this week. here's what you'll see. >> for teens from afghanistan, playing music is a tremendous act of courage. we'll explain. >> that and more coming up on "teen kids news."

barry, time is running out. according to my calculations, 1 in 5 kids in america struggles with hunger. how can so many children face hunger, when there is more than enough food to feed them all? doo ba baba doo! you're right, barry! baba doo! we can help solve hunger by teaming up with feeding america to get food to hungry kids in communities across the country. announcer: help flint and the feeding america network of food banks get food to the people who need it in your community. find your local feeding america food bank at feedingamerica.org/hunger together, we're feeding america! of the united states of america... and to the republic for which it stands... one nation, under god... indivisible, with liberty... and justice for all. our disabled veterans pledged to sacrifice life and limb to ensure our way of life. now, they deserve our support. find out how you can help disabled veterans in your community.

visit dav.org. tell you about a new medical website designed especially for older folks. website you say! i can't work on computers, they're not senior-friendly. blah, blah, blah. but the national institutes of health fixed all that. now you can make the type bigger, increase contrast, even make it talk to you. just go to nihseniorhealth.gov and get the best medical information available anywhere. nih seniorhealth.gov. built with you in mind.

>> a lot of us have had good times bouncing ourselves silly at street fairs and parties, but as christina reports, we could be bouncing our way to the emergency room. >> bounce houses are popular, fun, and surprisingly dangerous. >> very often, more than one child is using the bouncer at the same time. we know that this increases the likelihood of an injury occurring. >> in studying bounce-house injuries, dr. smith found that it's not just the little kids who get hurt. >> in fact, in this study, there were more than 6,500 teenagers who were injured. >> granted, those 6,500 injuries

took place over almost 20 years, but the point is that the number of injuries has been going up. [ siren wailing ] and many of those injuries were serious enough to require trips to the hospital. >> because of the alarming, rapid rise and the number of injuries associated with inflatable bouncers, national safety guidelines must be developed. >> until that happens, bounce with care, especially if you're in a bounce house with smaller kids. >> i'm on my way to go get a haircut, but not just any ordinary haircut. i'm donating some of my hair to charity. come with me. well, here we are. okay, i can do this. hello. >> hi, nicole, how are you? >> i'm great. how are you? >> great to see you. >> fabio has been donating the services of his studio to locks of love for years. >> locks of love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces for children that suffer hair loss.

>> there are all sorts of medical reasons why kids lose their hair. some may have a disorder called alopecia. others may be undergoing cancer treatment. so why did you decide to donate your hair? well, i thought it was a really great cause and just a really easy way to help other people. are you nervous? a little bit. >> are you ready? >> i'm ready. every year, thousands of kids and adults donate their hair to locks of love. whether you're a girl or a guy, 7 or 70, your hair is needed, and it doesn't matter what color it is. to be able to donate, your hair must be at least 10 inches long. [ gasps ] oh, my gosh. i love it! oh, my gosh! wow!

it's really short, but i love it so much. thank you so, so much. >> thank you. >> locks of love says 80% of all donations come from us kids. you know, i haven't had my hair this short since i was real little. brings back memories of nursery school. nap time. for "teen kids news," i'm nicole. >> we like to know what's on your mind. so here's our "speak of the week." >> we're young. we're smart. and the opportunities to be whatever we want seem endless. so tell me -- what do you want to be when you grow up? >> i'd like to be an artist. i think that'd be interesting. >> i want to be an insurance broker. my dad owns his own insurance company, and it's actually a fourth-generation business. so that's why i want to do it. >> i want to be a cosmetologist. >> hmm, well, i think i want to be a giraffe trainer 'cause i love giraffes so much.

>> i want to be an actress when i grow up. >> when i grow up, i'd like to be a rugby player. >> i want to be a marine biologist because i love the ocean. i love animals. >> when i grow up, i want to be a librarian [chuckles] because i love to read. >> i'm thinking that one day i'll be a tv reporter. oh, wait. i am one. with "speak of the week," i'm drew. >> when we come back, i'll show you how to make a deliciously crunchy granola. music i want some more. what's he doing? please sir, i want some more. more? he has asked for... thank you. well he did say please... yes he did. and thank you. please and thank you. pass it on. (crowd of children) thank you.

(crowd of children) thank you. um]um] ♪[tum] ♪[tum] ♪[tum] ♪[tum] ♪[tum] ♪[tum] [phone ring,] car brakes hard [phone ring] [car crash] glass shatters [sirens] this video was submitted by a student through the safety scholars program. for more information on teen safety visit driversedge.org. >> students from the culinary institute of america

are sharing some of their favorite recipes with "teen kids news." here's what's cooking this week. >> hi. today we'll be making a vanilla-scented granola. it's a really easy recipe for granola with a vanilla scent that's great for breakfast, lunch, or even a snack. so i'm going to start with my oven preheated to 300 degrees. now i'm going to spray a sheet pan so that nothing sticks to it. okay. now, i have my pan right here. i'm gonna add 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1/4 cup of honey. i'm gonna put that over medium heat.

stir it up a little. now, while that's heating, i'm gonna go over here, and i have 4 cups of oats. i'm gonna add a cup of sliced almonds... 1/2 cup of brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. now, i'm gonna stir this up. so, you know, if you don't like almonds, but you like a different kind of nut, you can sub that in. you can add dried fruit to this. you can really do whatever you want with it. sometimes i add peanut butter. i used to make this all the time when i was younger. and i still do, actually. so just gonna combine this till it's all well-mixed. make sure there are no clumps of anything. remember to use a towel or an oven mitt because handles get

hot. so i'm just gonna take this. it's my oil and honey and sugar. i'm gonna pour it over my oats. don't forget to add your vanilla. i'm gonna add 4 teaspoons of the vanilla. so... yeah, this is gonna make it smell so good. so, in the morning sometimes, i have this with milk. and that's always really delicious. or i just eat it dry. now i'm just gonna stir this up, make sure everything is nice and coated. yeah, i can remember making this with my mom when i was younger. okay, that looks good. now i'm just gonna take it over

here, pour it on to my sheet tray. spread it out nice and evenly. i'm gonna put it in my oven. and that'll just take about 30 minutes. just stir it up a couple times during that. luckily, we already have one made. so, it's been 30 minutes, and my granola is all finished. and it smells amazing, like cinnamon and vanilla. so i'm just gonna take it over here, and all you have to do is take a ziploc bag and put as much as you want in. you can also keep this in tupperware or anything else that's airtight. and it should keep for about two weeks. so... i'm just gonna seal this up, and

then with the yogurt and a banana, you have a lunch. all you have to do is open up your yogurt, spoon some granola in, and stir it up. add your banana, and that's a great lunch for any time -- school or even at home. so, that is vanilla-scented granola. at the culinary institute of america, for "teen kids news," i'm andrea. >> this is my last "teen kids news" program. i've been anchoring since it first went on the air 11 years ago. it's been a wonderful experience, but it's time to say goodbye. as a final goodbye, here's a look back at my years as an anchor. it's the job of some people to watch for dangerous weather and to give us warning, like they did with hurricane isabel. in the united states, all kids have the right to an equal education. it's the law. if you use a computer lab at school, you might want to wash your hands afterward. the youth market alert reports that computer keyboards are often contaminated by germs. studies show a disturbing trend

in the united states. fewer and fewer students are going into careers that have to do with math and science. a new study finds that parents often don't know about their teenagers' use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. having trouble sleeping and you're not sure why? if you already cut out caffeine and turned off your computer and video games, there's another culprit to consider -- your cellphone. it affects all of us, and we all want to know what it's going to do next -- the weather. finding alternatives to oil as an energy source is a national priority. so harnessing the wind would sound like a natural solution. scientists call them n.e.o.s -- near-earth objects. they're asteroids and comets that might someday be on a course to collide with our planet. i bet you didn't know that the u.s. marines have a regularly scheduled battle right here in america, a battle of the bands, that is. if that sounds like an interesting career, this next report is for you. >> mwanzaa, you were so cute.

and we have a surprise for you. as you know, "teen kids news" recently won an emmy, and we would like you to have the statuette. >> thank you. >> we couldn't have done it without you. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. >> and i guess "teen kids news" will be back next week. and i hope you'll be watching. >> i definitely will be. [ both chuckle ]

>> the following is a paid presentation for the wen healthy hair care system brought to you by guthy-renker. millions of women have stepped out of the ordinary with something revolutionary in hair care, wen cleansing conditioner by chaz dean. this is the breakthrough concept in cleansing and nourishing hair without using shampoo that has everyone, even hollywood celebrities, buzzing, and why wouldn't it? just look what it does for their hair. and if you try wen just one time, your hair can be softer, shinier, stronger, and fuller. and that's just after one use. we know once people try wen cleansing conditioner they never want to use regular shampoo again, and to prove it, we'll send the entire wen healthy hair care system to you to try on your own hair risk free! stay tuned to find out more about this amazing