What’s the urgency in Afghanistan?
Thank you for taking the time to read about our cause. The recent situation in Afghanistan is incredibly grave although it no longer makes the headlines. In October, eight children from the same family starved to death in Kabul.
The Taliban take-over was horrible, but the latest economic and food crisis is a lot worse for ordinary Afghans. With capital flight and the country’s financial assets frozen internationally, there is little money in circulation domestically, leading to few buyers in the market and little purchasing power. Those who were reliant on salary (like teachers and civil servants who would normally get ~$200 a month) have not been paid since July 2021. Meanwhile, essential food prices are skyrocketing. Female-headed families are at disproportionately greater risk. A recent UNDP report predicted imminent near-universal poverty. Almost half the population (19 million people) are currently facing acute food insecurity (level 3+ on a 5-point scale).
What can we do?
We have a plan, called the Trusted Family/Friends on the Ground (TFG). It is a simple model with three steps: collect, transfer, and distribute cash. Fundraising will be done by the Afghan diaspora in North America, Europe and Australia. The funds will be transferred to trusted family/friends on the ground, who will deliver 100% of it directly to the hands of people who were (a) financially too poor to begin with, and (b) whose source of income was interrupted in the last few months. Priority will be given to female-headed families. And that is our unique value proposition (unlike most other organizations, our people are 100% volunteers). Internally displaced people living under makeshift tents in Kabul have frozen to death in the past despite the billions of dollars “spent” in the country. See the diagram below for a visual representation of how we work.
Anything you can share will go a long way. For example, USD1 is about 90 Afghanis (local currency) and will buy 9 naans or feed a starving family one meal. A $100 donation will feed an average family of 6 for one month or keep them warm during the brutal winter.
Trusted Family/Friends on the Ground (TFG)
What do you mean by the “Ameens”?
Ameen is a common name in Afghanistan and literally means honest and trustworthy. It is a title we are giving to all our team members, but particularly those on the ground that we entrust with cash to be distributed among the needy.
Donate now…
Currently you have two options to donate. Option One is through a Global GoFundMe page (it is NOT a tax-deductible contribution), while Option Two is through a US-based charity (HappyNPO.com) who has kindly partnered with us to collect funds on our behalf in a separate account and issue all donors automatic tax receipts. We are exploring the possibility of partnering with other charities based in Canada, Europe, and Australia and will add those options as soon as we have a confirmed partner.
Note: if you pay through GoFundMe, please note that they have a 15% default “tip” option that will go to GoFundMe (and not our charity). You may adjust that percentage as you see fit.
The Process
We work with a simple model to collect, transfer, and distribute cash to those most in need as soon as possible, thus saving lives in the process.
We will transparently report how much was collected and how it was distributed on this website. And we will keep all records and evidence, and make them available upon request.
Anything you can share will go a long way. For example, USD1 is about 90 Afghanis (local currency) and will buy 9 naans or feed a starving family one meal. A $100 donation will feed an average family of 6 for one month or keep them warm during the brutal winter.
Please donate whatever you can and share the link to spread awareness of the situation. Thank you!