Ayenda (Afghan Children Initiative)

Mission Statement

The purpose of Ayenda, Afghan Children Initiative is to support projects that promote the welfare, education, health, shelter, safety, artistic and athletic abilities of Afghan children -- especially girls. Ayenda will select projects for funding based on critical needs, potential for high impact, efficiency and visibility, among other factors, for Afghan children.

Ayenda is intended to bridge financial resources in the United States with the critical needs of Afghan children, who are the future of Afghanistan. Afghan and foreign nonprofit organizations may submit unsolicited proposals to Ayenda, which will be considered based on the needs and the availability of resources. The implementation will depend on the funding provided by donors.

If donors have a specific area of interest, they may request their donation to be earmarked and utilized for such area. Ayenda will use best efforts to utilize the proceeds in such manner and where not possible, to a project that is as close as possible to the donor's request.

Ayenda, Afghan Children Initiative is a special project of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council. Mrs. Shamim Jawad, a Council member, a long time advocate of children's issues and wife of the Afghan Ambassador to the United States and Timothy McBride, a Council member and Senior Vice President of Government Relations at Freddie Mac, one of the nation's leading financial institutions, are in the lead on this important project.

Donations to Ayenda, Afghan Children Initiative, qualify as charitable deductions.