The Canadian Women’s Victorian Chapter of Afghan Women will host an online auction from November 11-18 with the goal of raising $5,000.
The auction will help fund various educational opportunities and some living expenses for Afghan women and girls, and will include items from local businesses, such as gift certificates and event tickets.
“There are a lot of really good local businesses, from Butchart Gardens to the Royals in Victoria, offering tickets, and a lot of stuff from Afghanistan,” said Beverly Oliver, who sources auction products and hosts the event. chapter.
Afghan women who donated items to the auction, currently displaced in Pakistan, are working with Artisan Links, a nonprofit organization dedicated to generating income for Afghan refugees.
Chapter member Catherine Long said the auction was held on Memorial Day to honor those who fought in Afghanistan while continuing to help those at home.
“We wanted to connect with Memorial Day because a lot of soldiers in our community were involved in missions there to help try to bring democracy into Afghanistan, and of course, many didn’t go home,” Long said. “So we launched it at the time in solidarity with Afghan women, but also in honor of Afghan veterans.”
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, women and girls have been barred from school beyond grade 6, limiting their ability to participate in society.
Canadian Women of Afghan Women is a national organization and federally registered non-profit organization that has been operating in Kabul since 1997.
“Now that the Taliban is back in power, we have had to move to a more digital presence, but we are still able to provide education programs and some cost of living to support Afghan women and girls in continuing their education,” Long said. “We think it’s critical to helping them fight the oppressive regime they live in.”
Auction items can be previewed starting November 10, and other items will be added as they go on sale.
After the auction closes on November 18, all auction purchases will be picked up at designated locations.
Smaller items such as gift certificates and other small items will be mailed.
For more information on the auction, please visit 32auctions.com/AuctionLink2022646.
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Afghanistan Charity and Giving