While in Nashville, I worked with a mentorship program for refugee young adults, where I met Hafsa*—a high school student who had recently arrived from Afghanistan. Hafsa became my mentee, and over the next year I had the privilege of getting to know her, her mother, and her four younger siblings. They are a wonderful family—deeply kind and generous—who have been building a new life in the U.S. with incredible strength and resilience.

However, there is one crucial pice missing: Hafsa's father.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August of 2021, in the chaos of evacuations, Hafsa's father, Farid, was separated from the rest of the family at the airport and was not able to escape the country. Despite having spent many dedicated years working for the U.S. Embassy and risking his life alongside American troops, her father was left behind. Because Farid worked for the U.S. government, he is now a target for the Taliban and has had to remain in hiding for over four years, separated from his family and struggling to work. Meanwhile, Hafsa’s mother has shouldered the weight of supporting five children on her own, working overnight shifts at a factory while the family has waited year after year for a chance to reunite with their husband and father.

Farid was finally approved for evacuation by the U.S. government through the SIV program, but due to the Trump administration's immigration policies, that option has been severely limited. Farid's best option now is to secure a business visa through a neighboring country—a process that will cost about $6,000.

Friends of Hafsa’s family, including myself, are working together to raise these funds. Every dollar will go directly toward visa fees and related expenses to finally bring Farid to safety and reunite him with his family.

Please consider donating—any amount makes a difference. Your support will help a father escape danger and a family be made whole again. If you’re unable to give, sharing this fundraiser with your network is another powerful way to help.

*Names have been changed to protect everyone's privacy and safety