Support Afghan Women's New Start in America

NOTE: This fundraiser is for an existing Welcome Corps case for a group of women from Afghanistan, who are in need of resettlement. Potential donors in need of additional information may contact me directly.

I am Lance Corporal Sarah Dionna, a medically retired United States Marine, rated at 100% disabled from toxin exposure while on active duty, and I’m living in South Carolina.

I have spent over three years working on resettling refugees from Afghanistan. While I did not serve in Afghanistan, I was compelled to assist other Americans in 2021 to evacuate our allies. Our efforts with Operation Snow Leopard helped to resettle over 1,800 Afghans on four continents, and our mission has been documented by several outlets (Global Washington Operation Snow Leopard, 2024, BBC Escape From The Taliban, 2022, Charleston City Paper Sarah Dionna Pauses Performing for Afghan Benefit Work, 2022).

I am raising funds for a US Welcome Corps initiative to resettle a group of four Afghans, including three women and a young girl, in South Carolina. I formed a sponsor group of five US citizens in my area and have applied for our group. Part of the requirement is to raise enough funds to sustain the family for the first 90 days upon arrival.

As I am a veteran in my sponsor group, we qualified for access to the Veteran Sponsor Fund, which reduces the amount we need to raise significantly. We are asking others to help us reach our goal so that we can resettle this group of deserving Afghans in the US.

Meet the Group:

My sponsor group feels it is an honor to support these women and young girl. They have each gone far above and beyond to help the people of Afghanistan and our allies and as a result, they faced extreme violence and death threats. I know each of these women from working on their cases as a case manager with Operation Snow Leopard Afghanistan.

*To protect their identities I have given each one a random letter in place of their names.*

M is a doctor who provided medical care at hospitals and clinics to Afghans and our allies during the 20-year war. She advocated for women's rights and helped build libraries. She speaks multiple languages and has worked as an interpreter. After the fall of Kabul, she and her family endured multiple attacks with severe consequences because of her career, forcing her to flee with her daughter. Relocated in a nearby country, in October 2024, her 8-year-old daughter started school for the first time ever and is at the top of her class!

J was injured in an IED attack when she was 2 years old, which has plagued her with lifelong disabilities. Even so, she pushed through and got her education and had a career working in prosthetics and orthotics. After the fall of Kabul, she was severely beaten because of her career, resulting in multiple broken bones and the need for hip replacement surgery. She continues to volunteer at a medical clinic in a nearby country. She is also a very skilled artist and tailor. She has always been at the top of her classes and loves studying English. Her dream is to become a doctor in the United States.

P was working as a security guard at a school in Afghanistan when it was attacked by a suicide bomber in September 2022, which resulted in the death of dozens and many more were injured, particularly young girls who were students. P was shot in the chest twice in the attack but managed to survive. She is also in a nearby country awaiting relocation.

After giving so much, it is now time to get all of them out and support welcoming them to the United States!

Though I have not previously resettled any Afghans in South Carolina, I am very familiar with everything it takes to prepare for their arrival and support them during their transition. We are lucky to have an organization that specializes in assisting refugees in our community, and they are going to help my sponsor group with the women. While the Afghan community here is relatively small, it is very tight-knit and families help each other out. These women are the strongest and most resilient people I have ever met, and I can vouch for their ability to work and integrate into American society.

How the funds will be used:

The provisions of the Welcome Corps program require that the sponsor group raise enough funds to cover the costs of housing, food, clothing, furniture, a cell phone, and pocket money for the first 90 days. A detailed listing of the financial support requirements can be found on the Welcome Corps website HERE.

It is an honor to sponsor these women and young girl. We are looking forward to meeting them and helping them adjust to their new lives. We are grateful that the leaders of Jewish Humanitarian Response asked us to assist them with this case. On a personal level, having worked on the cases of hundreds of Afghans with Operation Snow Leopard Afghanistan, I believe that those who support this campaign will find it immensely fulfilling.

Note about the timeline:

These cases can take some time to complete, and we do not expect the family to arrive immediately. We expect their arrival sometime between the first and fourth quarter of 2025. I will publish updates about their case progress on a routine basis for all the donors.

Thank you for considering supporting our mission!