Ayenda Foundation

IN RESPONSE TO THE TALIBAN'S TAKEOVER OF AFGHANISTAN IN AUGUST 2021, THE ORGANIZATION HAD TO CHANGE THE FOCUS OF ITS WORK FROM IN-COUNTRY SERVICES TO HELPING AFGHAN REFUGEES, ESPECIALLY (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) FAMILES WITH CHILDREN. TO FACILITATE THAT PIVOT, IT AMENDED ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO CHANGE THE ILLUSTRATION OF ITS CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FROM REFERRING TO PROJECTS THAT ASSIST "CHILDREN IN AFGHANISTAN" TO "CHLIDREN FROM AFGHANISTAN."BEFORE THE TALIBAN'S TAKEOVER, ITS PROGRAM SERVICES WERE THE FOLLOWING:THE ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERD CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FORM OF GRANTS TO OPERATE A SCHOOL IN AFGHANISTAN AND TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANISATION WHICH CENTERS AROUND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPOVERISHED AFGHAN CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY IN BAMIYAN PROVINCE AT THE AYENDA SCHOOL. THE MAIN PROJECT, LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF BAMIYAN, WAS CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL. THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED AND THE SCHOOL INAUGURATED ON MARCH 25, 2009. THE BUILDING SERVED 300 STUDENTS. THE AYENDA SCHOOL'S COMPUTER LAB WAS ALSO AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS TRAINING FOR WOMEN FROM BAMIYAN UNIVERSITY AND SURROUNDING HIGH SCHOOLS. AYENDA PROVIDED FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY OPERATION OF THE CENTER. FUNDS WERE PROVIDED FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUNG WOMEN ATTENDING THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF AFGHANISTAN (AUAF), SUPPORTIVE FACILITIES FOR WOMEN STUDENTS AT AUAF (E.G., A DAY CARE CENTER FOR THEIR CHILDREN) AND FOR POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMS. AFTER THE TALIBAN'S TAKEOVER, THE ORGANIZATION'S FOCUS HAS INITIALLY BEEN ON PROVIDING, THROUGH GRANTS TO OTHER U.S. SECTION 501 ( C ) (3) PUBLIC CHARITIES, HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO AFGHAN REFUGEES, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WHO RELOCATED TO THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. AREA AND TO ASSIST IN THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF AFGHANISTAN.THROUGH ITS GRANT TO LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF THE NORTHERN CAPITAL AREA, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 230 REFUGEE FAMILES AND 277 CHILDREN WITH BLANKETS, CAR SEATS AND BOOSTERS AND, MOST SIGNIFICANTLHY, COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS AND TABLETS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITES-EVERTHING FROM COMPLETING HOMEWORK AS A SCHOOL-AGE CHILD, TO APPLYING TO COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING, AND SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, ALL OF WHICH CAN HAVE A TRANSFORMATIONAL EFFECT ON THE REFUGEES' ABILITY TO BUILD SELF-SUFFECIENCY AND RESILIENCY.