Help Afghan Businesswomen Leave Afghanistan

Help a Woman Business Owner Escape the Taliban

UPDATE: All funds raised will go toward ground transportation, food, and other basics that Ziya and her family need to survive while their paperwork (hopefully!) makes it through USCIS. They may need to wait for several months!

Status

In mid-October, we submitted the applications for Humanitarian Parole for an amazing woman, Ziya*, and her four family members so they can Afghanistan and escape the increasingly brutal Taliban authority. Our team directly covered these costs so that everything raised can go toward the substantial on-the-ground expenses to support the family.

Back Story

Ziya built a successful company that provided hundreds of jobs to poor Afghan women who did not have any other opportunity for generating income. She was forced to close her business in the final week before the Taliban officially took over the country. Because she employed Afghan women and has strong ties with American companies and individuals, Ziya fears for her life and for the safety of her family under the Taliban. She has told us how Taliban officials have been looking for her and that she has had to leave her home and has not ventured into the streets for even one moment since going into hiding. They are now running out of food.

On September 29, 2021, the Taliban’s Ministry of Rural Development has ordered only men to return to their jobs. The return of women to work has been “postponed” until there is a “mechanism" for how they will work.

Even for women who do not own businesses, life is becoming increasingly restrictive with the Taliban proclaiming the conditions for women’s appearances in public to include: the color of their dress should not be attractive, they should not use perfume, and they should not wear long boots and their boots should not make any sound as it is “an announcement” for young men.

*NAMES AND SPECIFIC DETAILS WITHHELD TO PROTECT IDENTITIES. The photo above was purchased from Shutterstock and is not representative of any specific individual with whom we are working.

Who is Receiving the Money?

A small team of people in the US has come together through our work with the nonprofit, Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) to create this fundraiser to help Ziya and her family leave Afghanistan and settle in the US. The funds will go into a BPeace account so no taxes will be removed. We will transfer the funds to the family and/or use the money to directly pay expenses like visa fees or flights.

If we raise a substantial amount, some funds can go toward application fees and on-the-ground expenses for another 15 families with whom Bpeace is working to secure Humanitarian Parole.

What Happens Next?

If we can get Ziya and her family out of Afghanistan and ultimately to the US, she has a brother and a cousin in the US who can take them all in. We are working closely with the family members in the US and while they were not in the financial position to meet the application requirements, they can provide housing and support if/when Ziya and her family arrive.

Why We Are Doing This

As volunteers and friends of the award-winning nonprofit, Business Council for Peace (Bpeace) we feel personal connections to the businesswomen of Afghanistan.

Bpeace works in crisis-affected communities to grow small and medium-sized businesses, create significant employment for all, and expand the economic power of women. Our tagline "More jobs mean less violence®" has over and over proven to be true.

Formed a few months after 9/11, Bpeace has spent the past 20 years working in multiple countries, including Afghanistan (our inaugural location) to deliver high-quality customized business consulting from volunteer business experts, “Skillanthropists," to carefully vetted small and medium-size businesses lead by “Fast Runners.”

Bpeace has always had a bias for women entrepreneurs--especially in countries where their opportunities are severely limited--and we have deep ties in Afghanistan with women business owners in Kabul, Herat, and Mazar.

Risks & Challenges

Humanitarian Parole is not guaranteed for any or all applicants. We believe, however, it is the best path forward for Afghans who do not have or do not qualify for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. Our team is putting together the application and taking on the legal role of "sponsor" for Ziya and her family.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you are not in a position to donate monetarily, please consider:

• Sharing this campaign with as many people as you can -- use the share tools or cut and paste the URL to put into an email!
• Donate clothing, airline miles, temporary housing, or other items to help the family if/when they arrive in the US.
• Reach out to me directly with other suggestions.