Help Meena attend graduate school in the US

Dear friends,

 

Dr. Phyllis Chesler and I are helping Meena, a young Afghan woman, come to the US to pursue a Master of Social Work degree. Please keep reading for words from Phyllis:

 

In August of 2021, I met Meena online. She begged me to help save her life as conditions in Afghanistan were quickly deteriorating following the regime change. Since then, she has been evacuated to Spain where she waits for her a student visa. Now she needs our collective assistance to help to support her goal of attending school in the United States to study social work.

 

Who is Meena?

Meena is a humanitarian worker who has worked tirelessly for girls’ education and women’s empowerment in Afghanistan. She has a degree in medical science and is trained in data analysis and research methods. She has worked on educational programs for Afghan women for several European NGOs, the UN, the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee and for Washington University in St Louis. For the past four years, she has been focused on using participatory methods to study inclusive primary education and training young healthcare professionals on quality care delivery in rural settings of Afghanistan.

 

What emergency is she experiencing?

After her initial email, Meena and I stayed in close contact as conditions in Afghanistan worsened by the day. Recognizing the two-week window we had to assist her while US forces were still maintaining control of the Kabul airport, my team began working tirelessly to get her and other Afghan women out of the country.

 

As Kabul fell to the Taliban on August 15, 2021, Meena miraculously managed to escape less than 24 hours before the suicide bombings at the airport. She is now in Spain with some of her family. Based on her tireless work and dedication to improving social disparities in Afghanistan, she has earned a full scholarship to pursue a Master of Social Work degree in the United States. Her professor, Dr. Jean-Francois Trani, and his family have offered to sponsor Meena while in the US and provide a place to stay while she gets settled.

 

She will soon depart for the US alone. However, there is still a requirement to have a sum of money in her bank account before arriving in the US. There are also many expenses that will need to be covered during her first year in school including plane tickets, transportation, food, toiletries, clothing, healthcare, books, software, visas, etc.

 

How can you help in this emergency?

To support Meena’s independence as she relocates to the United States, we are urgently asking our community to come together and help. All funds raised will be given directly to her. Any contribution, no matter its size, will make a difference in Meena’s life. Thank you!

 

Words from Meena:

When I asked Meena what she wants to tell other Afghan women, she said: “Never give up on your dreams. Stay together and help other women like yourselves, work together as the team that has saved me have done. I want to help other women as others have helped me.”

 

Following the completion of her master’s degree, Meena plans to continue her work as a social worker on issues of inclusion for women, children and individuals with disabilities in Afghanistan.

 

Who am I?

Parul, my wife, and I have been conducting research on livelihoods, education, healthcare, employment and social participation of vulnerable Afghans since 2004 (when we lived in Kabul). We met Meena in 2018. She was involved in our research project on vulnerable children education in rural Afghanistan with Norwegian Afghanistan Committee where Meena was working. She did an amazing work and will be an asset to any endeavor she pursues in the future.

 

Who is Dr. Phyllis Chesler?

Dr. Phyllis Chesler is an author who has worked with a team that coordinates the rescue of hundreds of feminist women and their families from Afghanistan. She has been connected with Meena since August 2021, and plans to remain in touch with her forever. Dr. Chesler believes that Meena will be an asset to our country and a credit to all those who help her.