Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund in Montclair

AGFAF believes in women empowerment through education!

Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund (AGFAF) is a non-profit, committed to effecting social, gender and economic equality in Afghanistan. They secure scholarships and provide financial, emotional and academic support to the best and brightest young Afghans, primarily women, seeking a college education. They also support students by allowing them to lead projects in Afghanistan designed to improve the life of Afghan people. Since its creation in 2008, it has assisted 39 Afghan students and raised over $1.2 million. As a result, AGFAF has provided the necessary assistance to cover costs such as airfare to Afghanistan, books, and health insurance.

In June 2008, a young Afghan girl had completed one year of high school in the USA, but was back home in Kabul with no hope of returning to college in the USA. Two months later, after Motiuk’s son asked his parents to help this young girl, Motiuk and several other New Jersey colleagues, together with Montclair resident Bob Weisbuch, then President of Drew University, worked out a four year scholarship for her. Miraculously, within 3 weeks, a visa was issued for her to return. She graduated from Drew four years later and today is making her mark in the world,” said Leo Motiuk, found of the Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund

“Montclair has always been a community whose culture, educational system and spirit embraces people and customs from all over the world. The town stands for opportunity and empowerment  for all no matter sex , national origin or religion. There is no better place to tell the AGFAF story,” said Leo Motiuk, Founder of Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund

The Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund will be hosting two events in Montclair. Come learn about the program and their most recent student impact project, the Baale Parwaz Library. AGFAF would like to think Toni’s Kitchen, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Watchung Booksellers for their undeniable support in planning and hosting this event.

• May 12 6:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. 
  AGFAF members and students will discuss the history and future of AGFAF. It will focus on Kabul’s Marefat High School, where a number of AGFAF students went to school before going to college. There will be a special book signing by Jeffrey Stern, author of The Last Thousand. His book tells the story of Marefat and its students. It will also cover the Baale Parwaz Library, which started last summer as an AGFAF funded student impact project and has grown to daily service hundreds of children and adults in the city of Kabul. The event is set to take place at Montclair Public Library, located  on 50 South Fullerton Avenue
• May 13, 2017 3 P.M. – 5 P.M. 
  AGFAF members and students will continue to discuss the history and road ahead for AGFAF. Individual stories will be shared and conversation about the future plans for the Baale Parwarz Library will be mentioned, including new student impact projects and internships for summer 2017. Copies of Jeffrey Stern’s The Last Thousand will also be available. The event is set to take place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located on 73 South Fullerton Avenue. Also, please bring a donation of nonperishable food items for Toni’s Kitchen

For more information about the Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund, please contact Roberta Bitar at info@agfaf.org or calling 973-845-8677.

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