2021 in Review: Achin Girls’ School & Shagnon School

Achin girls’ school progress — the classes were taught outdoors prior to our development of a new 18 room building for the girls to house classrooms, offices, and a library. We are still collecting funds to furnish the school.

Badakhshan Shaghnon school: We repaired and repurposed an abandoned building and use it as a temporary school until we raise enough fund to build a more suitable structure.

Donating emergency food to needy families;

Emergency Appeal for Evacuation Funds for AWF Volunteers

With the currently escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Afghan Women’s Fund is currently working with immigration attorneys to help our volunteers in Afghanistan whose lives are in danger because of their dedicated work to supporting the rights of women and girls. Four members of the organization have already been violently attacked in recent days and many more are in hiding, in fear for their safety. The work of these Afghans in education and on behalf of women and girls places them in danger now that the Taliban is in power. The threat of escalating violence by the Taliban is acute.

The U.S. is evacuating many, many people, but so far these efforts are not coming close to meeting the needs of so many Afghans in danger. To date, the U.S. government has not enacted a broad-based program (such as granting humanitarian parole en masse or ferrying people to U.S. territory and safety) on a scale to meet the needs of the multitudes of people under threat.

Zachary Sanders and other immigration attorneys are generously contributing pro bono support to file humanitarian parole applications to arrive in the U.S. on behalf of Afghan Women’s Fund volunteers across Afghanistan who have helped with building schools and hospitals on our behalf. Humanitarian parole (HP) applications (I-131) and family petitions (known as I-130s) will be filed with a request for USCIS (the immigration agency) to expedite adjudications. Normally these petitions take many months and years to be approved, but obviously, the dire situation in Afghanistan requires an immediate turnaround. Humanitarian parole applications (I-131) can also be filed for those individuals who are beneficiaries of family petitions and also as stand-alone applications of those who are in peril, which if granted would allow Afghans who are in danger to enter the U.S. Once in the U.S., these individuals could apply for political asylum.

Your funds will go toward the emergency evacuation and asylum support for the 50 volunteer members of our organization who are in danger because of their work supporting our organization's educational and vocational women's programs.

Fahima Gaheez 

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR

Emergency Appeal for Funds

I am writing with a broken heart about the new wave of brutality and chaos that has overtaken Afghanistan as the Taliban have rushed back into power. It is horrifying and surreal to see the images of people fleeing across the airport tarmac, trying to climb onto planes and falling in their desperation to escape the atrocities that lie ahead. The life of every Afghan is at risk, especially women and children, and we stand together with them in solidarity and support.

Throughout the country, women and children are being displaced, losing their homes, experiencing rape, torture, and murder, and fleeing violence. Although some mosques have opened their doors to these homeless families, many are living on the streets, experiencing hunger, thirst, brutal heat by day and savage cold at night. As an organization, we are initiating an emergency appeal for funds to help these families. The money will be used to provide for their immediate needs: food, shelter, clothing, blankets, tents, toiletries, and medical care.

As I write these words, I can't stop crying about the horrific news that has been pouring in over the last couple of days. For example, I found out that the young daughter of one of our volunteers was killed. Whole families that I'm personally acquainted with--some of them have been volunteers in our programs--are missing, while others are now on the street. My phone has not stopped ringing and the stories I hear are overwhelming.

I beg from the bottom of my heart for you to open up your hearts to the women and children of Afghanistan during this crisis. Any donation will be appreciated. You can donate by clicking this link.

As always, I thank you for your generosity and compassion. I take comfort in knowing that you will continue to stand with our sisters in Afghanistan and that they are not alone in their pain and struggle.

Fahima Gaheez