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Looking To Find A Way To Help This Girl and Her Family

by Rod Cortez
11 replies
Dear Warriors,

I know this post does not belong in the main forum but I think many of you will understand the spirit of it and what I'm trying to achieve. I read this story at CNN this morning and it really touched me:

Afghan girl begs for bread, prays for help - CNN.com

I am also looking to help these girls as well:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapc...ack/index.html

What I'm asking for is feedback, suggestions, or ways on how I can send some funds to her and
her family. I'm going to call the Red Cross and several other organizations, but wanted to pick the brain of the Warrior community since one of you might know of a more effective way of reaching her and her family. I'm also going to get in touch with CNN as well.

I didn't place this in the Off Topic Forum because there's a lot more traffic here. I hope you guys understand. I'm not holding a fundraiser or anything like that, I simply want to send some funds to this poor child.

Thank you,

RoD
#family #find #girl
  • Profile picture of the author Lance K
    RoD, let me get some caffine and put some brain power to it and I'll get back to ya.
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    "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
    ~ Zig Ziglar
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  • Profile picture of the author MicahF7
    This is great... Thanks for helping this girl... Im totally behind you 100%!

    I will be watching.


    Micah Rush
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin Riley
      Rod

      That's a tough one. It's not easy getting money into a country like Afghanistan. I had difficulties just getting Mohsin's money to him the one time we did it by bank transfer, as even our banks now do strict checks on money transfers.

      This little girl's family may not have a bank account, esp with her father's condition.

      Also, with the state parts of Afghanistan are in, is money going to help? It would be better if you could get a care package to her, with staples like rice, canned fruits and vegetables, legumes (lentils, beans). Stuff that they could store and that would feed them for a long time.

      See if a shipment can be organized through the aid workers.
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      Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan

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  • Profile picture of the author John Rogers
    Rod,

    You might try USAID/Afghanistan: Contact Us

    I have another idea, and am digging now.

    Best of luck!!

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Ouroboros
    I'm just a stupid f**k, but I would have to think that getting any kind of meaningful aid to an individual in Afghanistan would be like pushing a 747 through the eye of a needle.

    International Aid agencies have to skim a bit to stay in business, and any direct help at aid would be funelled through the still IMHO corrupt powers that be...

    And yes, this belongs in Off Topic, if for no other reason than I share your concern and feel helpless to do anything.

    Steve
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    Need a Simple Product/Service to Market to Offline Clients? Sell Them DFY Custom Videos. https://www.fiverr.com/users/gigsiteguy

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  • Profile picture of the author Glenn Grundberg
    Rod...Dude.

    At the risk of sounding totally insensitive (which I'm NOT), I have to not only agree with Steve, but go a bit further...

    If you go all teary eyed and start digging in your pocket every time you read a story like this you are DOOMED, man.

    We have tens of thousands of people living just as close to the bone right here in America- children with addicted, drunken, abusive parents...kids being whored out on the streets, digging in garbage cans to survive...

    Can you save them too?

    Listen, I applaud your heart! But I have learned over the years to insulate myself from individual tragedies like this one. There's really nothing you can do for her directly. All that's possible is to make your charitable donations wisely, and hope they help the big picture.

    My favorites are The Red Cross...Doctors Without Borders...Covenant House...and KIVA if you want to have a more direct effect.

    Once again, Kudos to you for feeling- just don't get too close or you will get crazy thinking about it.

    Peace,

    Gman
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    I'm Baaaaaack...
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    • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
      Originally Posted by Glenn Grundberg View Post

      Rod...Dude.

      At the risk of sounding totally insensitive (which I'm NOT), I have to not only agree with Steve, but go a bit further...

      If you go all teary eyed and start digging in your pocket every time you read a story like this you are DOOMED, man.

      We have tens of thousands of people living just as close to the bone right here in America- children with addicted, drunken, abusive parents...kids being whored out on the streets, digging in garbage cans to survive...

      Can you save them too?

      Listen, I applaud your heart! But I have learned over the years to insulate myself from individual tragedies like this one. There's really nothing you can do for her directly. All that's possible is to make your charitable donations wisely, and hope they help the big picture.

      My favorites are The Red Cross...Doctors Without Borders...Covenant House...and KIVA if you want to have a more direct effect.

      Once again, Kudos to you for feeling- just don't get too close or you will get crazy thinking about it.

      Peace,

      Gman
      Let me start off by saying that I realize I cannot save everyone, nor do I attempt to (I'm not sure where I even insinuated that in my OP). I give of my time and money to charities here in the states as well as over seas. I don't like the assumption that I'm going to get "teary-eyed" over every story I read, which I don't if you knew anything about me.

      This girl happens to remind me of my late sister who passed away back in 1997 and I wanted to do something. I merely wanted to get feedback from other Warriors on what they thought I could do, I wasn't asking for people to get on their soapboxes. I appreciate your input, but you were way off base since you know nothing about me or what I do with my free time nor how I react to stories that I read about. I was merely looking for solutions not a lecture.

      I disagree that I cannot do anything for her directly. If I had that mentality I would have never been able to help others when I was told it was "impossible" or "crazy" to do so. At one point the 4 minute mile was impossible and so was landing on the moon.

      I got in touch with CNN and am going to pursue something with their help. I appreciate your feedback everyone, you gave me some great ideas.

      Rod
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      "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
      - Jim Rohn
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      • Profile picture of the author Collette
        As Kevin said, getting aid directly to specific individuals in Afghanistan is difficult, but it may not be impossible.

        I'd start by contacting CNN, and seeing if you can get in contact with the reporters who wrote the stories. Explain to CNN what you're trying to do, and that you're trying to set up a fund or whatever for them. CNN may even give you some free publicity for this, since they broke the story.

        The chances are that the reporters are still in-country, and you may be able to reach the girls directly through them, i.e. you send stuff to the reporters, the reporter takes the stuff directly to the girls.

        Just sending stuff through Afghan customs is a sure way to ensure that it gets stolen. And making a big show of delivering boxes of goodies to someone's house, when they're surrounded by people as poor and desperate as so many Afghanis are now, might be like putting a bullseye target on the family's safety.

        So, I'd start with the reporters. And work it out from there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave777
    Rod,

    When I first heard these stories in the media a few days ago, I felt the same as you. One of the most important things to do with these type of really sad stories is to keep exposing it in the media's to draw continual world-wide attention! Use the power of the media through "newsworthy" press releases perhaps with a spin and a connection with the internet marketing community to raise monies etc. etc. Thankfully, there are tons of people like yourself who do care in this world. If you can keep getting the word out and make things viral, others will come forward and help too. Maybe even someone heading down there or offering to assist in making the right connections with other groups who are also trying to help all these girls out in some caring way...

    Keep us uptodate on how things evolve. The Warrior community seems to get very involved in helping others, so hopefully more suggestions and ideas will make it happen...

    Dave
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  • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
    Whatever you do, do not send anything directly to her for obvious reasons.

    Not sure how many of these are legit, but see what this brings you.

    afghanistan relief organizations - Google Search

    Good luck, and let me know if you need anything.
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