Evacuate and save the life of a young, mighty Afghan woman educator, entrepreneur, women’s right activist, and disability advocate, as well as the life of her loving husband and their young 11 month old daughter. For the safety of the family, we are calling her "Angel". The organizers of this campaign are Alyssa M. and Kaley F.
Our goal is to have “Angel” evacuated and into a safe host home by early October, in time to celebrate her daughter’s 1st birthday, a symbol of a new beginning and a bright, hopeful future.
“We are in a bad situation. Please help me sister.”
“Angel,* are you okay? Are you in danger?”
“After one hour the firing start.”
In early August, we received desperate messages from our friend as the Taliban began their swift descent and takeover of the city. Sheltering in place with her husband and daughter, she sent us recordings of the sounds of gunfire, a sound that has plagued many of their nights and kept their baby up crying while they held each other close, praying for one more night. The details have been heart-wrenching, each day we hear from her a sigh of relief. One more day, one more chance.
We (the organizers of this effort to free Angel) met “Angel” in 2018 within the United States through a prestigious women’s entrepreneurial exchange program. She came here to learn and use the knowledge to improve the lives of her people: to advocate for those with disabilities, to educate and train women into leadership roles, to heal the trauma of the past, to give women a voice. She used her degree, her experience, her mind, and her heart to pour into her country. She worked alongside US companies in order to accomplish these goals. Unfortunately, like many others, she was left behind once the US evacuated and is now fighting for her and her family’s life, including her daughter’s future. We know that the Taliban are targeting those of her status.
We have been working tirelessly and diligently to coordinate the proper paperwork and plans for a safe evacuation. We have been working with an NGO with resources on the ground. Unfortunately, with the United States and allied forces evacuated, all evacuation efforts are extremely dangerous, and any organization with professional tactical experience in aiding in escape are very expensive as 18 million Afghans are fleeing the country at once. A concrete plan is in place, but we now need rapid funding in order to ensure and secure safety, housing, food, and flight.
All funds raised through this phase of the effort will go toward the following items over the next few months:
- Securing safe travel into a second country where we will then work to relocate Angel and her family to a safer, third country.
- Flights to a third country where we have coordinated a host ready to accept them while we await the status of US visa applications for the family.
- Hotel stays along the journey from their current location to the third country.
- Food and necessities for the family along the journey to the third country, and while they are in holding awaiting a decision from the US.
- Flights to the US upon approval of visa paperwork
- Visa filing fees should we have to file under the Humanitarian Parole path for all 3 members of the family
The goal is to get Angel and her family to the United States where we can support their resettlement. Each day we wait, the threat and danger grow. It’s imperative that we have the financial means to move quickly and are counting on the generosity of others to provide this opportunity for safety and freedom.
Any funds remaining from these expenses will be given to the family upon arrival in the checking account we’ve set up for them at Citizen’s Bank of Edmond. If for any reason, this mission does not end in our goal, these donations will go directly to Rights & Resolutions Advocates so that they can continue the work of actively evacuating those in danger from Afghanistan.
