Stand With Zarif: Your Chance to Save Lives in Afghanistan
Max GibsonImagine the fear of looking over your shoulder every day, worrying if this is the day your life will end. This is the reality for “Zarif” (name changed for security purposes), a courageous human rights activist in Kabul, Afghanistan. The resurgence of the Taliban has put him and hundreds like him in grave danger. Zarif’s story is not unique. It is echoed by the plight of many in his country who dared to dream of a better Afghanistan.
We are “Redeem the Oppressed,” a dedicated organization with a track record of saving lives since 2011. Today, we are on a critical mission: to provide a lifeline for Zarif and others like him. We are working to save 38 pre-screened families, all of whom directly worked with Pro-West forces in Afghanistan and each has a family member currently targeted by the Taliban. They have risked their lives for progress and now we must risk our comforts to save them.
Every single dollar donated to this cause can create real change.
Help us stand with Zarif. Make a donation today and become a beacon of hope in these dark times. Together, we can bring them from danger to safety. Share this message with your loved ones and in your networks. Let’s join hands to save Zarif and many others who are in dire need of our help.
Remember, it’s not just about donating. You can make a difference by sharing our campaign, advocating on social media, volunteering, organizing fundraising events, or contacting local leaders. Every action counts.
Join us in this mission. Stand with Zarif. Stand for a better Afghanistan.
Zarif's Story
Zarif, a pseudonym used for his safety, is a dedicated Social & Human Rights Activist who has spent the last decade advocating for the rights of the oppressed in Afghanistan. His life is now in grave danger due to his past activities and the policies of the organizations he has worked for, which stand in stark opposition to the Taliban regime. We urgently need your help to secure his safety and that of his fellow activists.
Zarif has been a beacon of hope for many in Afghanistan. He has worked tirelessly for several human rights organizations, welfare organizations, awareness campaigns, and protests over the past 10 years. His efforts have been recognized with several certificates and awards. He has been a member of various welfare organizations such as Ummah Welfare Trust, Women Health & Welfare Organization, and Afghan Youth Human Rights Movement.
The Taliban and other terrorist groups in the region have targeted and assassinated several members of the organizations Zarif has worked for. Zarif himself has been living in hiding for over two years to try and stay safe. His home has been taken away from him, and his life is under constant threat.
In addition to his social and humanitarian activities, Zarif has also worked for the Telecom industry of Afghanistan for more than 10 years. He was responsible for handling all legal, Marketing & Sales responsibilities for 6 Central provinces of Afghanistan.
Despite the threats, Zarif and his organization plan to restart their human rights activities once they reach a place where they can live freely again. They aim to work against the injustice and inhumanity of the Taliban, child labor, and injustice against women in Afghanistan. They also plan to work for women’s education and awareness in rural areas of Afghanistan.
We urgently need your help to secure Zarif’s safety and that of his fellow activists. Your donation will go directly towards the costs of evacuating Zarif and his fellow activists from Afghanistan, providing them with safe accommodation, and supporting their future human rights activities.
Every dollar counts. Please donate today to help Zarif continue his vital work and protect him from the imminent danger he faces. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.
Thank you for your support and for standing with Zarif and his fellow activists in their time of need.
What Happened? Farid & Zarif's Testimonial
In our homeland, we once led fulfilling lives, working to uphold human rights and balancing our jobs with humanitarian activities. Suddenly, our world was upended when the Afghan government collapsed, and the very terrorists against whom we had been fighting our battles on educational, human, and social fronts, seized power. This unexpected shift changed our lives dramatically.
In just a few hours, we lost everything: our homes filled with essential belongings, our vehicles, bank accounts, jobs, and most crucially, our freedom. Forced to abandon our families, we rushed to the airport, where we spent two weeks, even sleeping there. However, reaching the gates where foreign forces were evacuating people proved impossible. Then came the day of the explosions.
I was merely meters away from the incident on that fateful day. The scenes I witnessed were so horrific and terrifying that words fail to capture their essence. After this, we fled the area and abandoned any further attempts to reach the airport, particularly as numerous friends were arrested on their way there. The Taliban had taken control of all access routes to the airport.
A few days later, we managed to gather all the documents necessary for the Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) application. We had submitted our SIV applications two years prior and had spent months in a state of waiting. The National Visa Center (NVC) kept sending us emails requesting corrections on certain documents. Eventually, we completed all the necessary paperwork, and our application moved to the review stage. We sat aside, nurturing hopes of receiving good news.
In the end, thanks to our friend Richard, our cases were given priority. However, after two years of waiting, when the NVC reached out to our Human Resources department, they failed to respond in a timely manner. Despite my multiple attempts to contact them, their silence persisted. Even my supervisor did not respond to my emails. Now, we find ourselves in Afghanistan with no apparent future.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ
“Operation Lifeline” is a mission spearheaded by “Redeem the Oppressed” aiming to safeguard Farid, Zarif, and other activists who face peril from the Taliban’s renewed dominance in Afghanistan. These individuals, along with another 38 heads of families, are targeted by the Taliban due to their support for Pro-West forces.
They are dedicated social and human rights activists based in Kabul, Afghanistan. They have been working and volunteering for various human rights organizations, and their work has made them targets of the Taliban. They have been living in hiding for over two years, and their lives are in severe danger.
“Redeem the Oppressed” is an organization that has been operating since 2011 and is dedicated to rescuing individuals who are in severe danger due to political, social, or religious persecution. They have partnered with Rise Agenda and Forcefield NFP to for this mission, and have helped over 35,000 lives to date.
The funds raised in “Operation Lifeline” will be used to aid Farid and others like him in escaping from Afghanistan and finding safety. This includes covering evacuation costs, such as travel expenses, legal fees, visas, and resettlement costs in safer countries.
The resurgence of the Taliban following the US/NATO forces withdrawal has put many Afghans, especially those who have supported the west, worked towards human rights, women’s empowerment, and social justice, at dire risk. The Taliban are hunting down these individuals, raiding their homes, and threatening their lives. More than 38 pre-screened, at-risk families need to be evacuated from Afghanistan.
The exact amount can vary based on individual circumstances, but here’s a rough breakdown of potential costs:
– $25 can contribute to emergency supplies for those in hiding
– $100 can help cover the cost of necessary legal documentation
– $500 can contribute to the transportation costs/logistics for one person to reach a safer location within Afghanistan
– $1,000 can help cover the cost of a flight out of Afghanistan for one person
– $2,800 can pay for a 2-year work Visa in a safe country
– $5,000 can significantly contribute to resettlement costs in a safer country
As a non-profit organization, we are deeply committed to directing the majority of our funding towards our mission to support the oppressed. From 2011 to the end of 2022, we’ve strategically allocated our funds to ensure maximum impact.
The lion’s share of our funding (89% or $1,979,110) has been dedicated to our program costs. These funds have been instrumental in allowing us to provide crucial aid and support directly to those in need.
We’ve managed to keep our administrative costs to a minimum, representing just 4.1% ($91,025) of our total expenses. These costs cover necessary functions such as legal and accounting fees and other overhead expenses that enable us to operate effectively and responsibly.
About 6.1% ($133,665) of our funding has been allocated to fundraising. These expenses cover marketing and advertising initiatives, fundraising events, and technology needs that are essential for raising awareness and funds for our cause.
Lastly, a small amount of 0.8% ($17,700) has been used for other miscellaneous expenses that don’t fit into the above categories.
Our ability to keep our operating costs low has been largely due to our dedicated team of volunteers who generously donate their time and talents. We don’t have any paid staff, including our board members and leadership team, which allows us to direct more of our funds towards the people we serve.
In line with our by-laws, we ensure that a minimum of 85% of our donations directly benefit the oppressed. Although we have a maximum allowance of 15% for admin/fundraising purposes, we’ve been successful in keeping this average at around 10%. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to using our resources as effectively as possible to further our cause.
We are working to save 38 pre-screened families (total 305 individuals), all of whom directly worked with Pro-West forces in Afghanistan, and each has a family member currently targeted by the Taliban.
All donations are tax-deductible, our EIN is 88-3069203.
When you donate to our Operation Lifeline campaign, your contribution will have a tangible and direct impact on the lives of Farid and other activists in Afghanistan. We will be posting regular updates on the status of the mission and here’s how your donation can make a difference:
– A $25 donation can contribute to emergency supplies for those in hiding. This can help activists like Farid survive while they remain hidden from the Taliban.
– A $100 donation can help cover the cost of necessary legal documentation. This is crucial for enabling activists to escape Afghanistan legally and safely.
– A $500 donation can contribute to the transportation costs and logistics for one person to reach a safer location within Afghanistan. This is often the first step in an activist’s journey to safety.
– A $1,000 donation can help cover the cost of a flight out of Afghanistan for one person. This is often the most urgent need for those seeking to escape the current crisis.
– A $2,800 donation can pay for a 2-year work Visa in a safe country. This not only allows activists to escape danger, but also to start rebuilding their lives in a new, safe location.
– A $5,000 donation can significantly contribute to resettlement costs in a safer country. This can help activists establish a new home, free from the threats they faced in Afghanistan.
As our organization has a commitment to transparency, we will provide updates on our campaign’s progress and on how the funds are being utilized. This ensures that you can see the direct impact of your generous donation.
Before the fall of the Afghan government, they were engaged in jobs and humanitarian activities, working to uphold human rights in their country.
When the Afghan government fell, terrorists seized power, and the individuals’ lives were dramatically changed. They lost their homes, vehicles, bank accounts, jobs, and most importantly, their freedom.
They tried to flee to the airport with the hope of being evacuated by foreign forces. However, they were unable to reach the gates due to the high security and chaos.
They were close to the site of the explosions and witnessed horrific scenes that were too traumatic to put into words. After this incident, they stopped attempting to reach the airport.
They gathered all necessary documents to apply for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and submitted their applications. They had been waiting for their applications to be reviewed and approved for two years.
They are currently stranded in Afghanistan with no apparent future, as their efforts to secure SIVs and escape the country have been unsuccessful thus far.
The situation is extremely urgent. With the resurgence of the Taliban, individuals like Farid and Zarif who have supported the west, worked towards human rights, women’s empowerment, and social justice, are at dire risk. They are being hunted down, their homes raided, and their lives threatened.
You can help by sharing the campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. You can also get involved by calling your local leaders, volunteering, organizing local fundraising events, advocating on social media, and more.
“Redeem the Oppressed” works with partners like Rise Agenda and Forcefield NFP to ensure mission success. They have a history of success in this kind of work and are dedicated to rescuing individuals who are in severe danger due to political, social, or religious persecution. We have experienced team members that maintain the highest security standards.
“Redeem the Oppressed” is currently working to save 38 pre-screened families, all of whom directly worked with Pro-West forces in Afghanistan and each has a family member currently targeted by the Taliban.
The long-term plan for those who are rescued is to help them find safety and resettle in safer countries. The funds raised will cover their evacuation costs, including travel expenses, legal fees, visas and resettlement costs in safer countries.
“Redeem the Oppressed” is committed to transparency and will provide updates on the campaign’s progress and on how the funds are being utilized.
Absolutely! We also accept Paypal, GooglePay, Checks and most forms of donation.
Lifeline Sponsorship Program
Program Description:
The Lifeline Sponsorship Program is a unique opportunity for donors to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals and families escaping danger in Afghanistan. By sponsoring a head-of-household, you’re not just providing financial support, you’re offering a lifeline to safety and a chance for a new beginning. Moreover, each family that is helped commits to working towards the rescue of another two at-risk families, creating a chain of hope and survival.
Sponsorship Details:
For a donation of $7000, a sponsor can cover the cost of a 2-year work visa, a flight out of Afghanistan, and two months of living expenses for a head-of-household. This donation can be the difference between life and death for these brave individuals.
Sponsorship Benefits:
As a Lifeline Sponsor, you will receive:
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Permanent Recognition: Your name or your organization’s name will be permanently displayed on our website’s “Wall of Lifeline Sponsors”. This is a special section dedicated to recognizing the generous contributions of our Lifeline Sponsors.
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Special Letter/Video from the Family: You will receive a personal thank you letter or video message from the family you have sponsored (subject to their comfort and safety). This is a unique opportunity to see the direct impact of your donation.
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Regular Updates: You will receive regular updates on the progress of the individual or family you have sponsored. This could include updates on their journey, their resettlement process, and their new life in a safe country.
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Certificate of Appreciation: You will receive a digital Certificate of Appreciation, recognizing your significant contribution to the Lifeline Sponsorship Program.
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Invitations to Special Events: As a Lifeline Sponsor, you will be invited to special events, webinars, or meetings related to our mission and work.
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Impact Multiplication: The family you sponsor commits to working towards the rescue of another two at-risk families. You will be updated on this progress, allowing you to see how your donation has a multiplying effect.
By becoming a Lifeline Sponsor, you’re not just making a donation, you’re changing lives and creating a ripple effect of hope and survival. Join us in this mission and become a Lifeline Sponsor today.
Please note that all interactions with the sponsored individuals or families will be conducted in a manner that ensures their safety and privacy.
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