Three Afghan Girls

Together with the generous support of a small  group of friends and family, I am currently supporting three Afghan girls who were badly injured in the bombing attack on the Sayed al-Shuhada school in Kabul (Dashte Barchi), Afghanistan on May 8th, 2021.

For their privacy and safety, we have chosen not to disclose the girls names, nor their current location, but they have temporarily found safe harbour in the region.

The three girls (ages 14, 20, 21)  are now receiving medical treatment outside of Afghanistan. They reside in this other country as refugees, together with members of their respective families who are also their caretakers. The future of the girls and their caretakers is unclear and they ideally will be accepted as refugees in a more advantageous country, or continue to build a life in their current, more challenging country of residence.

Medical treatments they have received include skin grafts, amputations, and prosthetics. The girls continue to have surgeries to remove shrapnel which causes pain and internal damage. Each girl has undergone about 10 operations to date. Their medical operations are covered due to their refugee status but they need additional help with medication and living expenses while they are there.

I am from Afghanistan and greatly sympathize with the victims of the bombing attack. At the time of the bombing, I contacted and made a one time donation to one of the families who had an injured daughter. Six months later, this family, together with the caretakers of the two additional girls, contacted me again needing  more financial support while they receive treatment in their new country. Since then I have donated my own money, in addition to generous donations from my friends and family. Unfortunately, the girls still need additional, ongoing support.

I understand that many Afghans are suffering under the current conditions, and there are hundreds of people specifically impacted by the school attack. I have chosen to focus on these three girls and their caretakers due to limited resources, and because I know their situation personally. I visited the three girls and their caretakers in their new country in  February 2022 for two weeks. I provided a welcome break from their their daily challenges (this site’s artwork is based on a photo from their very first outing to the sea!), and got to know them and their situation first-hand.  

 

I am now looking for additional donations to help with medical bills, and living expenses. The eventual goal is to complete their medical treatments and help the girls begin a healthy, happy life in their current location or in another country which might offer greater prospects. Immediate use of the funds will go to medications not covered under the refugee program and daily expenses including food and shelter. Other less critical expenses include dental care, and education.

The families are working locally on their own to raise funds, but they still need help. To this end, I appreciate any and all support.  All funds we receive go directly and wholly to the girls and their caretakers. 

I am also grateful to be working with the Partnership of Afghanistan and Canada to raise donations (http://www.pacafg.org/portfolio-items/three-afghan-girls/). 

Updates are given below. 

With our heartfelt thanks,

Sultana



Updates:
June 6, 2022: A university professor generously donated a laptop. The girls are using it for online English lessons.


June 15, 2022: The youngest girl is about to undergo stomach surgery in June. The other two girls are preparing for their own operations in July including removing support screws from bones, and shrapnel removal.