How to Support Afghanistan— An action list by Afghans

Pictured: Afghan-American make-up artist Guity Rafik-Surrey (Photo: Misaq Kazimi)

Many people are searching for ways to support Afghanistan and the Afghan people during these difficult times. Here are 25 ways and counting you can support Afghanistan, the Afghan refugees and the Afghan diaspora in general.

The author of this article is Afghan-American and this article is written in collaboration with a few Afghans inside and outside of Afghanistan. This list will be updated regularly, so save and come-back to it. Please also share this list with your network. If you have a resource you’d like to add, please submit it in the comments.

1. Amplify Afghan voices; everyone has an opinion, but not everyone has the lived experience, so find, follow and amplify Afghan people — listen to their specific needs and calls for action.
2. Join a peaceful protest being organized by the Afghan diaspora across the world and in most major metro cities in US and Europe.
3. Write to your representative and demand that Afghanistan and Afghans are not abandoned. Here’s a pre-written email form or you can also obtain the same link by texting: Crisis to 52886 in the US.
4. Write to the neighboring countries of Afghanistan to request that they do not close their borders to Refugees. These countries are: Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan & Uzbekistan.
5. Donate to Afghan charities founded or run by the Afghan diaspora; these include: Komak Rasan, Panah Foundation, Afghan Aid, Children of War.
6. Donate to reputable international charities only. Many individuals have started fundraisers, but most will not be able to transfer the funds or successfully get the money to those in need. Make sure that the charity you support has a track-record of working in Afghanistan, ideally pre-2001 or has worked successfully in Taliban-controlled areas before. These include: UN Refugee Agency, International Rescue Committee, Red Cross.
7. Do not fall for marketing gimmicks, such as “a portion of sale from this product will go to Afghanistan.” It is nearly impossible for you to track when or whether your contribution will ever make it to the Afghans in need. Donate directly to reputable organizations only. If you’ve already donated, ask for a refund or proof of fund distribution.
8. Do not send money to individuals via online apps, especially non-Afghans, claiming that your donation is supporting this or that project in Afghanistan. Although their intentions may be pure, they will not have the know-how and in most cases there is not an established infrastructure to get your donations to people in need.
9. Volunteer though a local organization. Find a reputable local organization that will be assisting Afghan refugees and fill their volunteer form to provide services like airport pickups, apartment set-ups, or bringing a meal, in most cases it will be LIRS, JFCS.
10. Serve as an interpreter/translator. If you speak Pashtu, Persian (any of the dialects: Dari, Farsi, Tajiki) you can volunteer as an interpreter. Some Afghans may speak Urdu, but please note that Afghans do not speak Arabic.
11. Become a Humanitarian Parole through USCIS.
12. Donate airline miles which pays for air transport of Afghan migrants via miles4migrants; make sure to email and note that you are donating to Afghan refugees; by default, their platform is on need-basis and not focused on Afghan refugees only.
13. Donate a welcome kit through refugee services such as NSC.
14. Write and urge your university to accept Afghan degrees from nationally-recognized Afghan universities and schools.
15. Urge major and small companies to offer their services at no-cost to arriving Afghan refugees, such as Airbnb providing discounted housing, Him&Hers providing mental health support. All major companies have Corporate Social Responsibility departments you can contact.
16. Lawyers — Offer free legal help to Afghan refugees who have arrived, Afghans trying to escape from Afghanistan or the Afghan diaspora trying to get family and friends out of Afghanistan. Sign-up with Human Rights First
17. Mental Health Professionals— Offer free mental health to existing and newly-arrived refugees who are not offered the best mental health care through government agencies. Forty years of war has contributed to many mental health issues for Afghans living in Afghanistan and in the diaspora.
18. Teachers — Make sure you are conducting a ‘trauma-informed’ classroom and prepare your students for possible triggers, such as a the school bell.
19. Landlords — rent to Afghan refugees through refugee resettlement orgs.
20. Hire Afghans. Ask your HR department ensure Afghans do not fall through the cracks due to language-related deficiencies in the application and hiring process. Most Afghans fleeing are the ‘brains’ of the country and will be forced to take menial jobs to support their families. For example, this former minister with two degrees is currently working as a pizza delivery-person in Germany. Do not let great talent go to waste.
21. Foster a child until they are united with their parents. Here’s a video on the journey of an unaccompanied migrant child. Find your local foster agency and apply to become a foster parent.
22. Become a youth mentor through local refugee organizations, such as Refugee Services (Texas).
23. Compare foreign news reports with those reported by Afghan journalists or Afghan news media such as Tolo News, Ariana News and others.
24. Invest in Afghan startups such as Etesab which alerts local citizens of security concerns, here’s a list of other Afghan startups or an app that teaches Pashtu-speakers English.
25. Humanize Afghanistan and its people by sharing positive imagery of the country, stories of its resilient people, share videos as Unseen Afghanistan.
26. Stand with Afghan religious minorities through their diaspora-support network: Afghan Baha’is, the last Afghan Jew, Afghan Sikhs/Hindus and other religions of Afghanistan. Besides non-Muslim, Shia’ and some ethnic minorities are also historically persecuted, such as Hazaras.
27. Galleries — host an exhibit featuring Afghan diaspora artists. Here are a few to start with: Shamsia Hassani, Qaes Pirzad, Nadone Aber, Adeeb Haidari, Khyber Khan, Oriane Zerah, Moshtari Hilal, Yelda Ali, Fateme Hasani, Roya Heydari, Akram Ati, Arif Bahaduri, Ali Akhlaqi, Nargis Behgoman, Shabnam, Azim Fakhri, Rasmorawaj, Fysal, Maryam Noorzai.
28. Watch Afghan films, here’s a list of notable Afghan films and filmmakers.
29. Support Afghan businesses in your city; most Afghans have family still living in Afghanistan and often help them financially.
30. Eat at and support a local Afghan restaurant, find one on Yelp.
31. Connect with Afghan NGOs and initiatives: Afghan American Chamber of Commerce, Afghan American Women Association,
32. Celebrate the Afghan diaspora and their achievements, such as Afghan-Americans, PeaceCorps.

This list will be updated regularly, if you have something to add, please leave it in the comments or submit your suggestions in this form. Thank you!

Coming Soon

Follow Afghan activists & journalists, Collaborate with Afghan-diaspora organizations, Collaborate with Afghan-based organizations, Discover Afghan Art & culture, Read a few books written by Afghans, Listen to Afghan music and familiarize yourself with Afghan sounds and stories, Educate yourself on Afghanistan.