11/29/2022
Dear Friends,
It has been over a year since the dreadful fall of Afghanistan. Much has changed in the life of the Afghan people, especially women and girls. Millions of Afghans are facing the unthinkable and their hope has been replaced with fear and devastation.
The winter has already arrived in the country and for millions of people it will be harsh, cold, and dark. Afghan girls will have little food, no fuel, little access to education, if any, and they will struggle to keep themselves warm and nourished. More than 28 million people – 2/3 of the population – need humanitarian assistance, up from 18 million people just two years ago. Acute food insecurity and malnutrition continue to climb. Poverty and destitution have deepened as people continue to lose their jobs and livelihoods. Families now spend at least 75% of their income on food, leaving little left over for health care and education. Women, the backbone of our society, are fully denied their basic rights. Girls are banned from school. This is an absolute abomination that must end.
The Taliban’s brutal exclusion of women and girls from schools, employment, and political life has terrible humanitarian consequences that will impact our future, unless we educate the next generation of Afghans. The Taliban’s decision to impose even more hard-line measures on women will further damage the mental and physical well-being of women and girls, unless we help them.
I know the challenges confronting us in Afghanistan are severe. But nevertheless, Ayenda Foundation is determined to do its part and committed to staying the course and standing by Afghan girls.
During this time Ayenda was able to provide a $25,000 grant to LSSNCA in support of the Afghan Refugee families. It was heartwarming to know that we were able to bring smiles to the faces of almost 300 children and youths in the Afghan Refugee community in the DC Metropolitan Area.
We were able to provide more than 230 families, and 300 children, with the tools and resources to be safe, healthy, and successful in the early phases of their resettlement process. Most of the grant was used towards purchasing laptops, HP Chromebook, headsets, car seats, booster seats and warm blankets.
Ayenda was also able to provide a $10,000 donation to the American University of Afghanistan in support of the 700 students that are studying online from Afghanistan. Despite the daily threats from the Taliban, the courage’s students continue with their education as they know this is their only way out of the misery they are facing now.
As we approach the holiday season, I would like to seek your support to ensure that we have the funding we need to carry out our educational and humanitarian programs. Afghan families have exhausted all their reserves, and public schools for girls are closing. We must keep educational programs going.
Ayenda is grateful for your support and friendship and counts on your
continues assistance. Ayenda is committed to provide educational opportunity to Afghans inside and outside the country. As we believe through the power of education, Afghans may be able to find a way to peace and stability.
Thank you!
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