ALONGSIDE FOR EPEK CHANGE
EPEK International exists to walk alongside and care for those in need in a place where many organizations are reluctant to go.
Afghanistan is a place with difficult challenges, but we see many opportunities for those willing to be a light in a dark place. The EPEK team is lead by a US citizen, originally born in Afghanistan and having fled the country as a child as a refugee to Pakistan. The EPEK team comprises individuals who have years of experience working with organizations and NGOs that have served the Afghan people.
We walk alongside Afghans—both in Kabul, Afghanistan and NYC—to help lift up those who are struggling and often feel forgotten. Our work and relationships create hope and transformational, sustainable change through love, learning, resources, faithful service, and prayer.
Health/Wellness
ANNOUNCING: Clean Water Initiative Partnership with WaterStep International
EPEK International is excited to announce our partnership with WaterStep International to provide clean water for Afghan communities where we serve. This is especially important with COVID-19 challenges for hand washing and cleanliness.
Education/Skills Training
Basic Training Skills + Workforce Training for High School Graduates
The EPEK goal is to make families and communities in Afghanistan sustainable. Education and skills are crucial to success. Our approach is two-prong, focusing on vocational skills for men and women, and Workforce Training for young adult high school graduates who will be eligible to enter the workforce. All programs include an English language training component.
Technology for IDL
International Long Distance Learning
EPEK is introducing high tech resources into our communities to serve Afghans in our program areas. Through long-distance learning, those we serve will benefit by relationships, mentoring, and expertise of individuals from a variety of backgrounds and specialties.
2020: NEWS AND INFORMATION OF EPEK IMPORTANCE
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EPEK Goals:
2020 was an exciting year of taking a leap of faith to create awareness of and move our EPEK work forward. Obviously 2020 proved to be extraordinarily challenging for many of us. In spite of the challenges, we are thankful to have been successful in establishing partnerships, showing EPEK love, and serving struggling Afghan families who are among the poorest of the poor. We are committed to create and lead progressive educational, economic, and health initiatives that positively impact Afghans in NYC and Kabul, Afghanistan.
We are seeking to align with partner organizations and EPEK supporters to accomplish these goals:
01.
LONG-DISTANCE CULTURAL SHARING
We are working to implement innovative IDL (International Distance Learning) in Kabul, Afghanistan. This program is facilitated by 24 leaders in Afghanistan (bAhem) that we are currently training via phone, online platforms, and social media.
02.
YOUNG ADULT TRAINING
The majority of Afghanistan’s population is younger than age 24. Much of this young labor force enters the job market with little education. We will train 380 young men and women in Kabul, Afghanistan in business administration, computers, and English. It is a one-year program and will give the students an equivalent of a Diploma of Business Administration.
03.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS Our model is to integrate health and wellness components into all of our programs. In addition to providing emergency food packages, we will equip volunteer leaders for preventative care that saves lives and improves quality of life.
OUR NEEDS—HOW YOU CAN HELP US ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN A TRAINING CENTER
For our Long-Distance Culture Sharing and Young Adult Training programs, we need to cover the cost of facility rent, trainers, heating (wood burning stoves), and other basic overhead costs. We also need computers, a screen, projector, furnishings, and supplies for training room set-up. Our training center will be used to do small group programs supported by dependable internet and computers to make training, accountability, and encouragement possible.
Our budget to accomplish this is $31,280 (or $3,824) monthly
Your gift of any amount would be greatly appreciated and will help transform lives.
“DROP BY DROP THE RIVERS ARE MADE.”
AFGHAN PROVERB
From a friend on the field:
Wakil,
I was in Afghanistan throughout 2011, specifically in Kabul, and with your leadership and coordination our camp provided support to the Afghan people, especially the children. It was one of the highlights of my one-year in Afghanistan, as well as the highlight for many of the military members who served there. I retired from the Navy in 2016 and am now a chaplain at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.
I am pleased to see that you have established EPEK and will continue the ministry you have provided to the Afghan people.
All the best and God’s blessings,
Chaplain George
An EPEK Challenge:
A challenge we face when raising support for Afghans who are struggling due to the economic and violent affects of war are misperceptions about the people of Afghanistan. We work among them and are here to tell you they are basically just like us. Their culture is a bit different—actually, as a whole they are more welcoming and hospitable than many Westerners. They have cultural norms deeply rooted in multi-generational living. However, we believe our differences create opportunities to learn and grow together.
Our hope is that as you connect with EPEK, your hearts and eyes will be opened to our similarities and opportunities to show love, compassion, and kindness. Our goal is to establish an innovative way for people in the US to be part of an adventure to connects them with an Afghan English-speaking citizen. Stay connected to EPEK as we raise money to develop a center for “EPEK International Long Distance Culture Sharing”. Participants will be introduced and share “life” through weekly 30-minute “screen time visits” with someone half a world a way.
If you want to be part of making this happen, please consider a donation to EPEK.
READY TO BE PART OF THE EPEK CHALLENGE?
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