Most of us who learn about the horrors that Afghan refugees go through ask the same question: What can I do?

This question is not always easily answered. The realization that the international community has abandoned Afghan refugees lead us (the Afghan Women's Mission) to do everything we can to put an end to the suffering of the refugees. Specifically, we are trying to raise money to sustain a clinic in Pakistan dedicated to helping Afghan refugees. But we cannot do it without a strong grassroots base of support.

There are several ways in which grassroots volunteers can help Afghan refugees through the Afghan Women's Mission. Here are some ideas:

1. Organize a fund raiser at your school, church or community group
   This is a lot of work but incredibly rewarding. It takes only three or four enthusiastic people to put together a successful fundraiser. Such events are also important in that they bring people together to raise a collective consciousness. Here are some points to keep in mind when organizing a fund raising event.

   What will the focus of your event be?
   Some ideas are: a speaker, a video, a musician or performer, a poet or group of poets, etc. Use this to highlight the crisis of Afghan refugees to underscore the motivation behind helping Afghan refugees. A speaker can simply be someone who is well read on the issue of Afghan refugees, or has a story to tell pertaining to refugees. A good idea for a video is Witness.org's, "Rise : Revolutionary Women Reenvisioning Afghanistan" (2002 - for details on how to order the video see www.witness.org). It is an ideal video to precede a 20 minute speech, or, if your group is small enough, a roundtable discussion. Another recommended video is called "Search for Freedom" and runs about an hour. It is directed by Munizae Jahangir. Musicians or other performers are different in that they do not have to directly talk about Afghan refugees during their performance, but may dedicate a piece to the refugees as a tribute. It is important to highlight the plight of Afghan refugees in an introduction or during an interval so that donors know what the cause is and what is expected of them.

   If you can't come up with a speaker or performer, one easy idea is to simply collect a number of poems or readings by other people on the plight of refugees or Afghan refugees in particular (see www.rawa.org for true stories about Afghan refugees), or even about human rights in general. The internet is very useful for this type of research. Get a couple of your friends and yourself to read these at your local coffee house or church.

   How will you collect the funds?
   Sometimes it is easier to ask for a set amount at the door rather than simply passing a hat later. Remember to allow a sliding scale for low-income folks. One effective strategy to coax more donations from your audience is to make an impassioned plea immediately after the climax of the evening.

   The scale of donations requested should be determined by two things: the average income of your audience, and the quality of your event (i.e. if a famous musician agrees to play a benefit concert, don't hesitate to request $20-30 at the door).

   Will people show up to my event?
   Sure they will - the key is advertising. The cause of Afghans is one that many people have heard about in passing and know is important even if they don't know any details. If holding the event at a school, church or neighborhood community center, be sure and put posters up at least 8-10 days before the event. And don't underestimate the power of the internet. Email all your friends co-workers. Also, send us an email so we can advertise your event on our website. Type up a press release describing the focus of your event and some background information about Afghan refugees (see www.afghanwomensmission.org/background) and send the press release to the local newspapers and radio stations for their calendars and also to encourage them to perhaps cover the event. One very important aspect of having fund raisers is to make available signup sheets (asking for name, address, email address and phone number) for people who want to stay in touch. That way the next time you organize a fund raiser, you can mail all the people who came to your first one. Also, send us copies of the signup sheets for our database so that we can keep a broad audience updated about the situation with Afghan refugees.
   

2. Organize a sale and donate the proceeds
   This can be a very doable classroom or neighborhood project. You can even just get a group of your friends who have special skills to set up a weekly or monthly sale of products. It is also a great way to get a group of people involved who really feel like they are doing something substantial. Here are some points to keep in mind when you organize a sale:
   • What can I sell?
     You don't have to be a master craftsman to make items to sell. Apart from the obvious items like paintings, etc, here are some ideas: if you have a backyard and have always wanted to grow your own vegetables but didn't know what to do with the 50 tomatoes that sprang up each week in the summer, sell your produce at a local farmers market and donate the proceeds to the Afghan Women's Mission. Get a bunch of your friends together and have a jewelry making or candle making party and sell them at local craft fairs. Bake brownies and sell them outside your local church or in your neighborhood. Print up T-shirts that describe the cause and sell them for more than you paid. If you are an artist, get your local coffee house to display your art and advertise where the proceeds will go. And don't hesitate to advertise the fact that the proceeds will benefit Afghan refugees. When people know that you are doing it for a good cause they are apt to be more generous.
   • How should I price my items?
     One good strategy is not to price them at all - tell your buyers what the money will go to and ask them to donate whatever they can for it. Of course if they offer too little money, refuse. Also, make sure you have flyers for the AWM handy in case anyone asks for more information.
3. Run a Marathon (or walk, bicycle, swim, etc)
   If you like sports, one easy way you can help raise funds is to ask your friends and colleagues to sponsor you for a marathon or other sporting event. Simply ask potential donors to sponsor you by filling out a sponsorship form (see attached form) and pledge a monetary amount contingent on your completion of the event. When the event is over, collect the money and mail it to the Afghan Women's Mission. One of the simplest ways to do this is to ask you colleagues at work to sponsor you - leave forms in a common area or email your friends/family about the event and your fundraising efforts. Always make sure you have AWM flyers ready in case anyone asks for more information.
4. Throw a House Party
   This is easy, requires little preparation, and is usually fun. As long as your home or a friend's home is big enough to hold all your friends, simply make a small flyer advertising a house party to raise funds for Afghan refugees and mail them to all your friends. Encourage them to bring their friends and checkbooks. Here are some ideas on having house parties:
   • Try asking your local grocery store, cafe or restaurant if they would donate food for a benefit party at your house for Afghan refugees. Most socially conscious establishments will do it for the good publicity. This way you can offer your friends some refreshments while asking them to make out large checks.
   • Alternatively ask a few friends to help you make some food or dessert - perhaps even make it a potluck dinner.
   • Invite all your neighbors even if you don't know them. This issue is one that most people are drawn to and it won't be too hard to convince them to give.
   • Make sure you hand out AWM flyers.
5. Set up an Informational Table
   With little preparation (except making photocopies), setting up an informational table can be easy and very effective. Here are some tips on making it a success:
   • Location, location, location.
     Without a doubt, the most important aspect of tabling is to do it in the right place. If you or a friend is enrolled in a university, set up a table on campus during rush time: before, during and after lunch time for example, or between classes. If you go to church, set up a table outside the church so that people see it right as they exit (clear it with the church authorities before hand). The post-service hour is one during which people tend to be more generous. Another good place is your local supermarket, mall, or other establishment where the managers allow you to set up a table. Make sure the table is set up close to the busiest hour of the day.
   • What should the table have on it?
     The simplest thing would be to download AWM general flyers, volunteer forms, donation forms and the signup sheets and make as many copies as you think you will need. Colored paper is eye-catching, especially when each type of flyer is a different color. Useful supplements to this are Amnesty International reports on Afghan refugees, available at their website (www.aiusa.org), and stories of Afghan refugees from www.rawa.org. For a more effective response, download photographs of refugees from www.rawa.org and print them out on a color printer (black and white will do too but color is best). Put them in plastic sleeves for protection and display them in a binder or simply strew them on the table.
   • Make a large sign saying something eye-catching - even as simple as "Afghan Women's Mission", or "Help Afghan Refugees", and place it in front of the table. Pictures are always more effective so if you can blow up a photograph or paint a picture on your sign it can draw people well.
   • Read about the issue well enough to be able to talk to strangers about it.
     That way people who have never even heard of Afghanistan, let alone the refugee crisis, can learn something new and hopefully be moved enough to make a donation on the spot.
6. Write a Personal Check
   This one's easy. Make the check payable to IHC/Afghan Women's Mission and mail it to PO Box 40846, Pasadena, CA 91114 USA. We also accept credit cards. Download the form from the website (www.afghanwomensmission.org) and mail us the information. Or simply write down your credit card type, numbers and expiration date on a piece of paper, along with the amount of donation and mail it to the above address. Please don't email us the information (for security reasons).
7. Tell all your friends about The Afghan Women's Mission
   Forward this to all your friends who have email. Or print it out and hand it to everyone you know.

Good luck and stay in touch with us!