Help Negin, Afghanistan's first female conductor

I am very proud to be fundraising for Negin Khpalwak, Afghanistan's first female orchestral conductor, to help her continue her music studies here in the United States.

 

Before the Taliban takeover, Negin and Zohra, Afghan's all-female orchestra, performed at home and around the world. But making music in Afghanistan can have deadly consequences. Even before the Taliban came to power, musicians were the target of death threats and bombings. When the Taliban rode into Kabul in 2021, Negin, together with other music students from the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, had to flee. Negin made it to safety in Washington, DC, with her husband and their daughter.

 

To continue her music studies, Negin needs reliable transportation to get to her lessons across town. Uber or Lyft are too expensive, and the long bus and train rides are unmanageable when she has a 17-month-old daughter to care for. So Negin wants to buy a good used car to get to her lessons. The car will also help her husband, Hamid, to obtain work so he can support their small family.

 

Negin's musical gifts are a treasure worth cultivating and by donating to this GoFundMe campaign, that is exactly what you will be doing.

 

Please help Negin's talents flourish in her new home.

 

PS. Negin plays the piano, as well as conducting, and Hamid is also a musician, playing the tabla. (I have it on reliable authority that their little daughter is already showing prowess on the tabla, too!)

 

Read this Reuters story: The Day the Music Died

How I know Negin
For many years, I have been a sponsor of the Afghan Child Education and Care Organization (AFCECO), a remarkable orphanage/school that has reared a generation of young Afghans in an environment of equality and diversity. Negin was one of the AFCECO youngsters.

When my mum, who was a very good pianist, died I donated funds in her name for AFCECO to establish a music room. They named the room “Lorraine Music Room” in her honour. So the musical education of students like Negin has been very dear to my heart. I am in awe of the achievements of young musical ambassadors such as Negin.

Negin is still waiting to receive her social security number, which is required by GoFundMe to create a campaign. That’s why I am running this fundraiser on her behalf.