Dear community,
There’s been a long silence from me. The harvest season in the northeast is slowing and I have some fruits of our collective labor to share. 🌾🌾🌾
Many of you know, for the past two years I have accompanied 6 Afghan cultural workers (and their families) on their journey to safety. This digital community has generously supported that and has blanketed an excruciating process with deep love and trust.
Hazara woman’s embroidery as documented by Afghan cultural workers in Bamiyan and Daikundi
After two long years, 4 of the 6 families are resettled as refugees (2 in Canada and 2 in the US) and two are still in process (Germany and Brazil). ✈️
This school year 9 girl children will attend school again - they now have the chance of being educated past the 4th grade. Parents are finding opportunities - work and schooling - and some are building ways to continue their art-making and community building with other refugees. 💚💚💚
Javed, my dear colleague and friend from Kandahar (who started the first all women’s theater group in the province) is settled not too far from me! This weekend I got to see his beautiful family who is full of hope and light.
Javed is learning English 4 days a week, works at night, and has even started collaborating with a local church to create media and storytelling for their community building work between locals and immigrants and refugees.
BUT HE NEEDS OUR HELP!
Javed has a 20 minute walk to his bus stop - help us get the family a mini van so they can be independent! They need a car to get everyone to appointments and work and school! 🚙
ANYTHING YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE WILL HELP!
With those still in Afghanistan - I’ve been meeting online and working with local culture bearers on projects and methods to preserve culture and support cultural continuity. We are undertaking various ways to safely do this within Afghanistan as well as throughout the diaspora. 🌀🌻
Image from an upcoming book to be published on Hazara women and cultural heritage.
Lastly, There is a Portal is in the final stages of production. Expect more news in by the winter! ❄️ ❄️
My love, gratitude, and apologies to each one of you for the long silence. Your thoughts, support, and kindness have held us in a web of community that has made all of this possible. ✨✨💖💖✨✨
More soon! - Kayhan