What do you do?

I've had a number of conversations with a number of people where the question, "what do you do?" came up repeatedly.  When talking about Together for Afghanistan the simple, yet broad answer, is we help people in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.  To which the next question seems quite predictable, "so what do you do?"

The whole point of saying "help" instead of getting specific is to say that we will do whatever is necessary to better the people in need, but it is terrible unspecific at the same time.  So I've had this question on my mind for the past few weeks, how do I get more specific?

Perhaps getting specific can be to look at what we are already doing.  Right now we are focusing on helping the poor start small businesses so they can have a stable income, which for unemployed in impoverished areas is huge.  We set up offices with advisers who will help provide information to potential small business owners and actively recruit villages to start co-ops to give jobs to people.

Perhaps getting specific could be to tell a story.  Last winter in Afghanistan there was a huge avalanche that hit a village and destroyed many of the home and killed close to 20 people, yet because it was in such a remote area the government did not respond to this disaster.  No organizations went to deliver food, no tents were taken to the homeless.  No one visited and just showed that they cared.  In a good world this would not happen in the first place, in a tolerable world we would at least help everyone, but it seems wrong when some people are apparently worth more than others.  So what do we do?  We will go to villages like this and at least do something.

Growing Needs...

Greetings everyone!

With upcoming deadlines for financing the first project comes a certain amount of apprehension.  We have set a beginning date of June 15th  for our first business adviser project to begin and have made a few commitments that are binding.  We have not raised this money yet and there are several needs even beyond money.

First, we are still looking for a person to serve on our board of directors.  It is my hope that we can find someone who is committed and passionate about the welfare of people on the other side of the world.  It is impossible to ask this of someone, but it is a greater impossibility to not to ask when there are such great needs in Badakhshan. 

Secondly, we are in great need of documentation such as IRS approval, Tajikistan approvals and other logistics that are a mountain of paperwork.

Thirdly, we are going to need to raise approximately $5,000, (according to my own loose estimate) in the next two months to fund our first project and for the initial training.

With such great needs have come some great friends who are doing what they can and are such a great encouragement.  Over the next few weeks I anticipate posting some of their stories of how they are helping the people of Tajikistan.

Website fixed, Tajikistan Ready, and other exciting things

First, after much consideration and much scratching of my head I have figured out how to align columns on the website to prevent absolute pandemonium.(if you didn't see it, be glad you didn't)  The website is fixed and will no longer be an explosion of unintended consequences.  I will be adding significantly more content in the coming weeks now that the infrastructure issues have been addressed.

Several emails from Masrur indicate that he is back from Kabul, Afghanistan and has finished incorporating his nonprofit organization under the name "Lojvar."  He is ready to begin the Migrant Worker Project and we are coordinating to begin the grant writing process.

Other exciting things include the purchase of a camera for our organization as well as our business cards have arrived! 

Much still needs to be done, but progress is a reality and we are really looking forward to launching our first international project!

New website, first presentation, and a vacant seat on the Board

Greetings everyone,

Our website is officially up, though it will be undergoing significant changes over the next few weeks.  Both addresses, togetherforafghanistan.org and togetherforabetterlife.org are active to the website.  This is a big milestone and is an exciting event.

One of our directors has resigned due to a possible conflict of interest, though they are very supportive of Together of Afghanistan.  We are sorry to see them go but wish them well.  Which does mean that there is currently a vacant seat we are considering some people for.

I will be speaking at Mt. Lebanon's Middle School in a few weeks about Tajikistan which should be a great time of practice and will help solidify some of our purposes.  Also it will be a great opportunity for Middle Schoolers to learn about Central Asia and how they can help people around the world.

Our application for tax exempt status is underway, but we are taking our time to make sure it is done properly.  Thanks to all helping in this area!

Where we are

Its been a long year and a half journey so far, but things are really moving along.  Many of you have been a great encouragement to me in this new endeavor and I'd like to thank you.  We couldn't be where we are now without you.

So where is the organization right now?

Together for Afghanistan is incorporated as a Non Profit in the State of Pennsylvania.  We have an awesome board of directors that we will be publicizing very soon.

We are working on our 1023 application so that donations will be tax deductible. 

Our website should be up in a matter of days!!

Our partner organization in Tajikistan is almost ready to apply formally for our first project!

More to come.