"Thank you for saving my family"

  IRC president George Rupp recently shared the following story in an e-mail to IRC supporters. A young pre-med student in Virginia entrusted me with an important message that I would like to pass along to you. She says: "Thank you for saving my family." Ten years ago, Sahar Adish and her family began a treacherous journey from harm to home. It started on a dark night in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, and with the helping hand of the International Rescue Committee, it ended safely right here in the United States. Sahar's story starts in 1996, after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. That year, all girls were expelled from school. Sahar's mother began secretly teaching her daughter at home, along with other neighborhood girls who were no longer allowed to study. The Taliban heard about the secret school, and armed men burst into the home and arrested Sahar's father. After threats of a public execution, the family fled to Pakistan, where they joined millions of Afghan refugees in border camps. In 2002, the IRC helped bring Sahar's family to a safe and secure new home in the United States. IRC staff welcomed the Adish family at the airport, introduced them to their new community, and helped them find an apartment. With the IRC's help, Sahar and her brother enrolled in a local high school. Soon after, IRC staff and community volunteers helped her father find a job at a local hotel, and her mother a teaching position at a day care center. Two years later, Sahar graduated from high school, and was accepted to the University of Virginia. Today, she is a pre-med student. After college, Sahar plans to attend medical school. She then hopes to return to Afghanistan and help those who were left behind — just as the IRC helped her. Sahar's success story is one of thousands IRC donors make happen each and every day. Last year alone, the IRC restored hope and opportunity for 16 million people affected by conflict around the world. As I write, thousands of women, men, and children like Sahar are desperate for a safe haven from the violence and fear they must face each and every day. Make a gift today so that we can reach out to more families like Sahar's in 42 countries around the world, and help them flee danger and find security. Video: Sahar tells the story of her family's escape from the Taliban