AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE UPDATE (Sept): Help TEO Build Futures

Please consider supporting local organizations able to assist families affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan on August 31, 2025. The Tashabos Education Organization (TEO), the well-established and capable Afghan organization for which we are organizing this GoFundMe Campaign, is seeking to raise awareness of the situation in Kunar, but also underline the broader role that TEO and its partners play in standing with Afghan youth and vulnerable populations during crises. These moving photos show damage in Chaparo Village of Kunar Province taken by TEO's partner RRAA (Rural Rehabilitation Association for Afghanistan). Families in Afghanistan need your help. Thank you.

My name is Richard Hoffman, an American who lived and worked in Afghanistan throughout 2023 and 2024, working with NGOs. As part of my extensive overseas humanitarian and development career, I am a firm believer in, where possible, directly supporting trusted local groups who are doing reliable work to best help young people in need at the community level. Today, I am asking for your help to support a remarkable grassroots initiative -- the Tashabos Educational Organization (TEO) -- which is helping young Afghans, both men and women, build the skills they need to support their families, earn livelihoods, and preserve their role in public life.

THE NEED

Afghanistan continues to find itself in a difficult situation in recent years. Jobs have vanished, education has been restricted, and international aid possibilities have greatly diminished. Despite these very real challenges, Afghan youth -- both male and female – continue to show tremendous resilience, creativity, and courage. TEO is one of several impressive community groups that is helping these young men and women to turn their ideas and creativity into businesses, and dreams into action. In this way, they can best help their families, their communities and their country.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEO

Check out TEO’s English-language website on https://teo-af.org to learn more about TEO’s vision, history and more than ten years of good work supporting Afghan men and women, and by extension their families and communities.

WHAT YOUR SUPPORT WILL DO

With your help, we will channel to TEO funds to support a 12-month program that will:

• Train 50 young entrepreneurs – both young men and women -- in business skills and civic leadership

• Support 30 youth – male and female -- to showcase their products at national exhibitions

• Host a national business proposal competition to spotlight innovation

• Build a network of resilient, self-reliant young male and female leaders across Afghanistan

Every dollar goes directly to TEO, a trusted Afghan-led NGO with over 80,000 alumni. I have worked directly with TEO, and consequently know fully well their integrity, their impact, and their unwavering commitment to youth and families.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Your kind and generous assistance will sustain and expand ongoing efforts to teaches young Afghan men and women how to start businesses, contribute to their households, shape their own destinies and help their country build a dignified and sustainable future.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If we are able to raise $US 120,000 by 1 September 2026, we will be able to fully support the program of activities described above. Whether you give $10 or $1,000, your support will only go towards funding the items mentioned above, and in the process directly empower young Afghan men and women. I will gladly share regular updates, photos, and stories so you can see the impact of your generosity.

Thank you for standing with young Afghan men and women, and for believing in their power to build together a better future for their beautiful country.

Richard Hoffman (TEO Volunteer Advocate)

On behalf of the Tashabos Educational Organization (TEO) and in coordination with Fazel Rabi Haqbeen-seb (TEO Executive Director)