About Us

Mission

The mission of AAWA is to facilitate community services, integration support and cultural programs for Afghan women and displaced families.

Vision

Our vision is to build permanent structures for women and displaced families within the Afghan community, as we help them resettle, integrate, and become productive members of society.

Our Story

The very existence of A-AWA is a timely response to the growing needs of the Afghan Community residing in the Washington Metropolitan area. Our organization represents a safe harbor where social and cultural services, as well as sincere steadfast support for all manner of adversity can be obtained. Bringing awareness to our community regarding critical challenges and relevant issues breeds resolution and unity.

Ms. Shahla Azizi has led the way with co-founders Dr. Homaira Behsudi-Wali, Dr. Hosai Hesham, and Ms. Nillab Pazwhak. Together they formed the Afghan American Women’s Association which was granted Non-Profit charitable status on April 2009 by the state of Virginia. A-AWA operates under section 501 © (3) code of the Internal Revenue Service.

A-AWA is committed to serve as the linchpin connecting the Afghan-American community to the mainstream through its Life and Cope educational program, offering a professional platform to network, and smoothly integrate while preserving their dignity and rich culture. Since its inception, A-AWA has remained an all-volunteer based organization focused on ensuring services are offered in highly positive and nondiscriminatory spirit, with utmost professionalism, fairness, highly ethical and culturally sensitive manner. A-AWA continues to gain the trust of the community and steadily works towards its mission with strong principles and norms.

Make a Difference

Volunteering in your community gives you a chance to give back. You’ll feel a sense of pride that you are volunteering your time and will in return cultivate a more dynamic, integrative community helping Afghan families become productive members of their community.

You can help make a difference! Make a donation to A-AWA today. Your donation can provide valuable resources to Life and Cope Program and A-AWA’s Emergency Response Fund set for most vulnerable Afghan families.

Join us! With the trusted support of our members, we can continue to create a culture where our community would flourish and cultivate resources and connections for new refugee families.