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From Silence to Strength:
A Sibling Journey
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When a teenage brother and sister lost their father under Taliban rule, they fled Afghanistan with their family, crossing the border into Iran and then Turkey. Along the way, tragedy struck again, the siblings were separated from their mother and younger siblings at the Turkish border, arriving alone and deeply traumatized.
At first, both struggled with despair. The sister rarely left the house, withdrawing into silence, while her brother refused to speak at all. But once OMID found them, their journey of healing began. Through counseling and trauma-informed workshops, the siblings slowly rebuilt their lives. Today, the sister is pursuing university studies, balancing her passion for art with her ambition to become a lawyer. She has even built a small business as a nail artist and creator of handmade pottery.
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Her brother, once mute with trauma, now speaks English fluently almost like a native and is thriving in OMID’s online programs. He dreams of returning to formal school and continuing his education.
Their story is one of survival, healing, and hope made possible because of supporters like you.
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“Once silent with trauma, today he speaks English fluently and dreams of returning to school, proof that healing opens the door to hope.”
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From Dreams to Reality
See What You Made Possible, So far!
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girls boosted their English through
20 online language classes,
gaining confidence and career readiness
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girls completed the
Online VOICES program,
healing together through
gender-responsive group therapy.
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students explored acting and improvisation in our online
Theatre for Life,
building confidence through performance.
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teens graduated from our first
Online PATHS group,
mastering life skills and emotional regulation.
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interns joined our peer-to-peer online conversation classes,
building mentorship and
cross-cultural learning.
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young people took part in our photography competition, 3 were awarded as winners for their powerful stories through images.
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Looking Ahead To continue these activities in the next quarter,
OMID requires
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to fund online classes, mental health workshops,
and emergency relief efforts.
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Your support makes this possible.
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OMID and Stafford County, Virginia, USA Public Schools Collaboration
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A six-month partnership has launched to strengthen support for Afghan refugee students and families.
Beginning in July, the initiative introduced its first in-person workshops in August, focusing on trauma awareness, cultural responsiveness, and family support.
Participants praised the interactive and practical approach. The collaboration will continue online through December with additional workshops and follow-up consultation to help educators, youth, and families put these tools into practice.
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Running for Resilience: Maryam’s Fundraising Journey
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When Maryam, a passionate marathon runner from London, first heard about OMID’s mission, she decided to turn her love for sports into a force for change. Instead of just running for herself, she dedicated her next half-marathon to OMID, inviting friends, colleagues, and neighbors to sponsor every mile.
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By the time she crossed the finish line, Maryam had raised enough funds to fully cover one trauma-informed workshop for OMID participants. That single workshop brought healing tools, a safe space, and hope to dozens of young women navigating life after trauma.
What started as one woman’s athletic challenge became a powerful act of solidarity, proof that passion and purpose can move lives forward.
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“Every step I took reminded me that I wasn’t just running for me. I was running for them. Knowing that my effort could turn into education and healing made this race the most meaningful of my life.”
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Finding Hope Nominated for BAFTA
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We are thrilled to share that Sara Nourizadeh, director of Finding Hope, has been nominated for a BAFTA Cymru Breakthrough Award.
This recognition highlights not only Sara’s achievement as a filmmaker, but also the resilience of OMID’s beneficiaries and the urgent need for global awareness of their struggles and successes.
For more information, please visit our Instagram post.
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Omid Foundation USA
North Bethesda, MD, USA
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