DORIS BUFFET CHALLENGE

Please see our most recent generous challenge from a long-term supporter – the renowned “Sunshine Lady” – Doris Buffett.  Doris has been a champion of our efforts for many years – please give generously to us in order to meet her challenge – needed NOW more than ever!  We must succeed so that we can educate policy makers and have a positive impact on all global citizens – Afghanistan has been cast poorly in our media, and we understand, through our personal connection to these students, that we MUST continue to educate women and witness the transformation that is inherent in this endeavor. 

THANK YOU!  View Buffett Challenge Letter here.

United Air Miles and American Express Membership Reward points

Donate your miles and points to send IEAW students home to Afghanistan in the summer; then back to their campus in the Fall.  Help our organization to maintain our students ties with their homeland.  Learn more, click here.

Intersession January 2012

Intersession is a cherished tradition at the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women – it is the one time of the year where ALL of our students come together for sustenance, fun, sharing stories, and learning.  This year we all met in Washington, DC, the nation’s showcase for museums, culture, connection, and pride.  Indeed, we experienced all of the amenities offered up, and thoroughly took advantage of our time together.

We went to two concerts at the Kennedy Center; had a guided tour of the Capitol (thanks to RI Senator Jack Reed’s office); visited Eastern Market (reminding our students of markets in Kabul); rode the Metro; saw the treasures of Islamic Art at the Freer Gallery (one of the guards remarked to us that he learned more about the collection from listening to our students discuss specific items, than he had in the entire time he’d worked there); enjoyed the National Museum of the American Indian; had a delicious Afghan dinner, courtesy of the Foundation for Afghanistan with Ambassador Said Jawad and Executive Director, Ahmad Shuja; went to tea at the Embassy of Afghanistan; had a leadership workshop at Georgetown University with Ambassador Cynthia Schneider and with Clare Lockhart, co-founder and director of the Institute for State Effectiveness; enjoyed the historic homes and window shopping wonders of Georgetown (where we stayed); prepared and cooked delicious meals together, watched movies, stayed up late chatting and discovered all of our areas of common ground and connection.

Geri Abdoo, master photographer, and friend of the IEAW, joined us for several days and took gorgeous portraits of our students, along with documenting our many activities – what a splendid contribution on her part!  Amazing what a good eye, good lens, and talent can conjure up – we thank her wholeheartedly!  Mary Goodman, our wonderful ESL teacher, also joined us; as did Ariel Timm, an intern from Michigan. 

Thanks to all of the folks who contributed so much to the success of this wonderful and enduring event – we will never forget our time spent critically engaged with each other…not much of a “rest” but quite a source of endless memories.

Visit to Williams School

On January 12, 2012, Williams School (New London, CT) sophomores Kelly Kong and Juli Brown invited several of our students, and ESL teacher Mary Goodman, to speak about Afghanistan.  The teachers and students were intrigued by our confident young women who spoke about their own lives in Afghanistan, especially when one spoke of initiating a basketball team for girls on a dirt court, with no coach to help. 
 
In addition, a group of Williams theatre students read powerful excerpts from the writings of our IEAW students.  These passages told of our students' struggles during their youth and of their efforts to receive an education.  Learning about the women of IEAW has so motivated Kelly and Juli and their friends that they have raised nearly $500 for our students by selling doughnuts and baked goods.  Thank you to The Williams School for inviting us to share the IEAW story.