About the Child
In 2023, Amela, an orphan from the remote mountains of Nuristan, found refuge in one of Shokofa’s hidden safe homes in Kabul. For a year, Amela lived with 20 other girls in a place where safety was fragile, yet dreams were fiercely protected. Together, they defied the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, secretly attending school and taking online lessons from Shokofa’s dedicated volunteers.
In August 2025, Amela entered the 4th grade at a private school in Islamabad — a world far removed from her isolated village. She has already begun mastering new languages: in addition to her native Nuristani, she now speaks Dari, Pashto, and a little English. With a heart full of ambition, she dreams of becoming a professional artist, painting a brighter future for herself and others.
Family Situation
Amela’s childhood was marked by loss and hardship. She lost her father at a young age, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings in crushing poverty in a remote village with no income and no access to education. Her mother, already battling cancer, passed away a few years later.
With no one to care for them, Amela’s two brothers fell into drug addiction. In the chaos, Islamic militants — known for child trafficking — approached her relatives with an offer to buy Amela in exchange for a few cattle. Her fate could have been sealed that day. But by sheer luck and courage, Amela escaped and found refuge in one of Shokofa’s caring homes in Kabul.
You have the opportunity to sponsor one or multiple Afghan girls from our orphanages. Your sponsorship provides vital financial support for their education, including tuition fees, and essential living expenses such as rent, food, healthcare, clothing, utilities, and more. To ensure continuous education and care, we kindly encourage sponsors to consider annual contributions.
As a sponsor, you can build a meaningful connection with your sponsored child through letters and video calls. You also have the option to visit the orphanage and meet her in person. We will keep you updated on her progress, education, daily life, and activities, ensuring you play an ongoing role in her journey toward a brighter and successful future.
If writing a check, please make it payable to “THE ZAANHA FUND”, and mail it to:
530E 76th St, Apt 27E, New York, NY 10221