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[ 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | HOME ] January - March 2001   The group created a brochure and a sign and continued to collect donations for RAWA, supporting a specific teacher, Sharifa, in a Pakistan refugee camp. (For security reasons, Sharifa's photo cannot be shown.) March, 2001   Nine members of the group donned burqas and walked around the Saturday downtown Farmers Market, handing out information. Response was interesting - from wariness to friendly support.   People would not take the literature unless they were spoken to first. (The original intention had been to walk in silence, as women in Afghanistan were forced to do.)   On International Women's Day, some members participated in a march downtown, wearing burqas. A forum was held at UCSB at the same time, where Briana spoke on a panel about Afghanistan. Nancy Gallagher, K. J. Vickery, Briana Lawrie, Cynthia Carpenter April 2001   Annette Zumba spoke at Dunn School in Los Olivos. Students were very excited and wanted to become involved in the cause. May 2001   A large contingent of Dunn School students joined group members to stage another march down State St. through the Tuesday evening Farmers Market. Ten women wore burqas, and signs were displayed, reading "Support Afghan Women" and RAWA's web site address. Brochures were also handed out. June-September 2001   The group had a table at the Farmers market on one Saturday each month, continued to meet and collect donations.   On June 20, Steve Penners from the L.A. RAWA support group, Afghan Women's Mission, came to Santa Barbara to show slides of his trip to Pakistan. He bought medical supplies for refugees with RAWA SB's money. Steve Penners buying medical supplies with RAWA SB Money. Peshawar, Pakistan. Akora Khattak Refugee Camp, Pakistan, where the medicine was distributed. After September 11, 2001   Everyone suddenly wanted to know about Afghanistan, and the world became aware of the plight of the Afghan women under the Taliban. This was one of the few good things to come out of the terrible disaster. After 9/11, our group was featured on TV news spots, had articles in the newspapers, and we were besieged with requests for information and speakers. KEYT Reporter Kelli Freeman Our wonderful original group member, Annette Zumba, spoke at over 25 different events! Donations poured in. October, 2001   Diana Haskins hosted 2 luncheons at her home, and one in Denver, contributing a significant sum to RAWA's hospital. Annette spoke at U.N. Day in October. November 16, 2001   Tahmeena Faryal, Foreign Affairs Representative from RAWA was in Santa Barbara for one day only. She was interviewed by local media during the day, and attended a reception at Earl Warren Hall, Earl Warren Showgrounds, excellently created by Diana Haskins. The UCSB Middle Eastern Ensemble donated their musical skills, and Diana and friends served wonderful Middle Eastern food.    Afterwards, Tahmeena spoke to a crowd of about 900 people, which gave her a standing ovation. Photography was not allowed, as Tahmeena (and all members of RAWA) were, and still are, under death threats, first by the Taliban, and now by other fundamentalist terrorist groups. Annette generously donated the cost of renting Earl Warren.   The CoachHouse held a benefit for RAWA. Nicola Gordan November 2001   The Stationery Collection in Montecito held a fundraiser for RAWA. November 18 2001   Renee Bergan planned a benefit at SoHo with female musicians, "Women United", which was a great success. December 1, 2001   The Group held the second Holiday Bazaar of Afghan Handicrafts, selling items similar to the year before. Once again, Beads of the Earth sold Afghan jewelry, and The Oriental Rug Gallery sold Afghan carpets, donating 50% to RAWA. Proceeds were much greater this year!   In December, Renee Bergan planned another musical benefit at SoHo, again with female artists. This time we also had jewelry for sale, and Urban Nomad sold antique Afghan items, contributing a percentage of her sales to RAWA. Jennifer Terran & Brendan Statom [ 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | HOME ]