Journeying into the United States last year as a refuge from a war-torn country in the Middle East, Mike brought with him the very thing he holds dear: the vision and passion to help the most oppressed and undereducated women and children in the world

Utilizing his 10 years of experience as a humanitarian aid worker with World Vision, a large humanitarian organization that is active in over 90 countries, Mike approached us with a business plan to help empower and educate women and children both in the Middle East and employ the underserved in the U.S.

According to Government figures, only 26 per cent of Afghanistan’s population is literate, and among women the rate is only 12 per cent.

While no longer working among the suffering and violence of Afghanistan, Mike has anything but run from the harsh realities he has witnessed. Thanks to your support, we are helping him to make his vision a reality.

Mike is now a part of a new project that launched in June 2018. In partnership with five other nonprofit organizations, we launched the Orange County Entrepreneurs Project (OCEP). This pilot is uniquely designed to give people a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.” Trained and then paired with a team of business mentors, Mike and, others like him, can make a lasting difference in local communities.

Investing in these entrepreneurs means “teaching them to fish” instead of simply “giving them the fish.” In so doing we are creating jobs that lift the poor and underserved toward dignity and well-being. Our current entrepreneurs have dreams for flourishing businesses in transportation, education, food and catering, industrial cleaning, and social services.

Mike is starting an import business that not only creates jobs in California, but also employs women in Afghanistan to manufacture products that will be sold in the U.S and elsewhere. By paying a living wage to Afghan women, they will be able to send their daughters to school. Your gifts and support are helping to equip Mike and others like him to be community changers!

[1] Combined initial and second periodic reports of Afghanistan to the CEDAW Committee (p. 49)

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