Support for Sonita's Family

I am raising funds to support my friend Sonita Alizada to bring her family, who have been targeted by the Taliban due to her public activism for Afghan women and girls, safely to the U.S.

With the Taliban now controlling Afghanistan since the U.S. pulled its troops out of the country in August, Sonita's family has been in heightened danger due their affiliation with her. They were forced to leave their home and town and to secretly hide in a distant relative's basement, until they were warned by villagers that it was no longer safe to stay there.

For the past several weeks, Sonita has been faced with an impossible situation. Each time she speaks up for girls and women, she puts the lives of those she loves most, her family, at heightened risk. As a public activist, she has a deep commitment to speak out, particularly in this moment of unprecedented violence by the Taliban.

I am raising funds for Sonita's urgent need to bring her mother, sister, brother, niece and nephews to safety. Only a few days ago, with the help of friends and colleagues, she managed to help her family evacuate Afghanistan to a temporary location as their first step toward safety. Now it is up to Sonita, with the help of friends and community, to bring them safely and legally to the U.S. where they can have her support to begin to heal from the recent traumas of war and start a new life.

I am raising money for Sonita to pay for her six family members' immediate survival needs for the next 3 months: Food, shelter, public transportation, legal fees for immigration to the U.S., and airfare to the U.S.

I need your help to raise these funds. With your support in helping to secure their safety and survival needs, you will also be supporting Sonita's activism to help other girls and women who are in need of the same aid and assistance.

Thank you for helping to support Sonita's family’s survival and for the hope you give us.