About Us

The Afghan Women’s Mission started operations in January 2000 and is run by a small group of concerned Americans in support of the humanitarian and political work of RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. Projects have included many programs run by Afghan women including Malalai Clinic, schools, orphanages, agricultural programs, demonstrations and functions in support of women’s and human rights. We are an all-volunteer organization based in the United States and are a project of the non-profit organization SEE.

rawaThe Afghan Women’s Mission was founded in response to the compelling need for adequate hospital facilities near Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan. Our first undertaking was the re-opening of the Malalai Hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This flagship project was effectively started in late 2001. In 2005, Malalai Hospital was transitioned into Malalai Clinic in Khewa refugee camp.

Broadly speaking, the objectives of the Afghan Women’s mission fall into three categories:

    1. Health Care: establish and operate free health centers serving primarily Afghan women and children.
    1. Education and Empowerment: support schools and other programs for Afghan refugees to alleviate emotional suffering and decrease illiteracy and joblessness; and to empower Afghan women to build sustainable livelihoods.
    1. Awareness: conduct campaigns to increase public awareness on women’s and human rights and related issues in Afghanistan and Afghan refugee camps.

Afghan Women’s Mission is run by:

Sonali Kolhatkar, Co-Director

Sonali is an award-winning broadcast and print journalist and the host and executive producer of a nationally syndicated radio and television program called Rising Up With Sonali. She is also a Senior Correspondent of the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute and the Racial Justice editor at Yes! Magazine. Sonali is also a spokesperson for the Afghan Women’s Mission and speaks widely on college campuses, community forums, and conferences. She is also the co-author with James Ingalls of Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence (Seven Stories 2006).

Azadeh Azi Ghafari, volunteer Co-Director 

Azadeh Azi Ghafari is a licensed mental health practitioner who works as a hospital administrator in Southern California. She specializes in public health policy and mental health advocacy within immigrant and refugee populations. Azadeh is an Iranian-American immigrant born in Tehran, Iran. Her family obtained refugee status and was granted asylum in the United States in 1992. She’s been volunteering with the Afghan Women’s Mission and serving in various capacities, including as Development and Outreach Director, since 2001.

James Ingalls, Co-Director

Jim is a staff scientist at Caltech’s Spitzer Space Telescope Science Center. He manages AWM’s monthly pledge program and website. Jim has written on a number of political issues and been interviewed widely on Afghanistan and other topics. He is also the co-author with Sonali Kolhatkar of Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence (Seven Stories 2006).

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