Afghan Refugees need Harvard Alumni support

Whilst the future for all Afghan people is currently uncertain following the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan, the plight of Afghan women is particularly acute with the Taliban signalling the curtailing of freedoms to work, study and undertake activities outside the home.

Through the Harvard Kennedy School Women's Network Facebook Group, a group of women met recently to discuss how alums can help Afghan women. Through the HKS DC Alumni Council the group is urging all Harvard alums to consider donating to two NFPs which are playing active roles in assisting Afghan Women:

- Marina LeGree (HKS MPA/MOC 2014) leads Ascend Leadership Through Athletics.  She is trying to get girls out AND assure their safety in Afghanistan as necessary. 

Donations can be made at https://www.ascendathletics.org/donate

- Ms Jess Fullerton, another HKS Alum, is working for International Rescue Committee. 

Donations can be made via https://www.rescue.org/country/afghanistan

If you are interested in finding out more about the Alumni initiative or how you can help the Afghan people you can contact alum Judith Bunnell at judith.bunnell@yahoo.com

Other ways that Alumni can support the Afghan cause are through political pressure to confer refugee status for Afghan citizens and to become involved with resettlement activities though the many international non profit and faith communities that are mobilising on the ground. Lastly alumni can assist by raising the profile of the issue by informing their networks about the situation in Afghanistan.