MISSION
Afghan Friends Network (AFN) delivers sustainable programs in education and cultural exchange that promote self-sufficiency and empower Afghans, in particular women and girls.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Sam Abrahim – Businessman and entrepreneur
Tony Abrahim – Businessman and entrepreneur
Mejgan Ali Afshan, Political Consultant
Tamim Ansary – Writer, Scholar
Camilla Barry – Principal of Barry Scientific
Pietro Calogero, Educator, Architect and activist
David Fleishhacker – Writer, Scholar
Marian Garvin -Controller Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers
David Hurlbert, Writer, Marketing Consultant
Dana King – Anchor, CBS 5
Tish Momirov – President of Marra Foundation
Ghulam Qader Popal – Civil Engineer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Board Memeber and AFN Parlimentarian, Hon. Carol Ruth Silver
Chairperson of Board of Directors, Humaira Ghilzai
Board Member and AFN President, Yasmene Mian
Board Member and AFN Secretary, Marilyn Good
Board Member and AFN Treasurer, John Bortner
Board Member, Susan Aumack
Board Member, Feroza Unvala
Board Member, Naheed Hasnat
BIOGRAPHIES OF AFGHAN FRIENDS NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hon. Carol Ruth Silver, Founder and Parlimentarian
CAROL RUTH SILVER, Founder of Afghan Friends Network, is the principal in Law Offices of Carol Ruth Silver in San Francisco, California, specializing in real estate matters including litigation, transactions and mediation. At present she also sits on the San Francisco Assessment Appeals Board and has an active license as a real estate broker. Carol Ruth Silver has a long history as an activist in social and humanitarian causes, from participation in the Freedom Rides (seeking equal rights for African-Americans) and directing the Delano office of California Rural Legal Assistance (helping farmworkers assert their rights) to her most recent cause, assisting the people of Afghanistan in the rebuilding of their nation. Along the way she founded the Chinese American International School of San Francisco, was a national consultant on Legal Services for the Poor, served on numerous entities of the legal community including the State Bar of California House of Delegates and the Committee on the Right to Legal Service of the American Bar Association. She was elected to and served three terms on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In that capacity she also served as president of two regional organizations, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District Board of Directors, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors. In her early life she worked as a clerk at the United Nations at its headquarters, and is a founding member of the World Centre San Francisco, a community group supporting the ideals of the United Nations. Education: University of Chicago College, Batchelor of Arts (with honors); University of Chicago Law School, Doctor of Jurisprudence; Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Institute of Politics, Fellow. Personal: Ms Silver is the mother of two grown sons, and grandmother of two grandsons.
Humaira Ghilzai, Chairperson of Board of Directors
Humaira is an advocate for the Afghan people and Afghanistan. Born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, Humaira and her family fled Afghanistan after the Russian invasion in 1979. Her family settled in the San Francisco Bay Area but Humaira still maintains her connections with Afghanistan and speaks fluent Dari. She serves as Chairman of the Afghan Friends Network and has spearheaded many educational programs that have improved the education for girls and women in Afghanistan, particularly in the province of Ghazni. To help foster stronger cultural ties, Humaira also has founded the Sister City program between Hayward and Ghazni. Humaira lectures about Afghanistan, it’s people and women’s issues. Humaira lives in San Francisco with her husband and 2 daughters. She runs Humaira Style, a fashion and image consulting company, and sits on the board of the Randall Museum. Previously she has worked in international marketing at Sun Microsystems and at Oracle Corporation.
Yasmene Mian, Board Member and President
Yasmene was born in Kabul, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. Due to the Russian invasion, her family fled their country in 1983 and after a 3 year stay in Pakistan they ultimately found refuge in the United States. A graduate of Santa Clara University, she holds a BS in Business with an emphasis in Marketing. Her strong rooted connection with Afghanistan fuels her desire to raise awareness on the plight of the Afghan people. She believes education is a fundamental human right and it is the only way towards establishing freedom and justice in Afghanistan. She is hopeful that if we all give a little bit of ourselves, a lot can be accomplished.
John Bortner, Board Member and Treasurer
John is a high tech professional with marketing and alliance experience at Sun Microsystems and Oracle. He is currently a senior program manager at Oracle. John has a Bachelor of Arts in art history and an MBA in marketing. He has worked at the San Jose Museum of Art, the Crocker Art Museum, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He has a strong interest in education and cultural issues in Afghanistan.
Marilyn Good, Board Member and Secretary
Marilyn is a marketing and alliance professional with more than 20 years experience at high-tech companies including IBM and Oracle. She is currently senior director of marketing and communications for global alliances and channels at Oracle Corporation in Redwood Shores, CA. Marilyn has a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada. She has been involved in fund-raising for breast cancer research and related needs. She feels strongly that educating children is the key to building a strong Afghanistan.
Susan Aumack, Board Member
Susan is a high-tech industry professional with more than 20 years of business development and marketing management experience. Susan is actively involved with charitable organizations supporting the cultural and academic needs of people living in the United States and developing nations, such as Afghanistan. Susan has an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird – School of International Management, Glendale, AZ and a BA from the College of New Jersey.
Feroza Unvala, Board Member
Feroza was born and raised in Bombay, India where she studied graphic design. She is married with two children and is now settled in San Francisco. Her design experience spans over 25 years, a diverse client list from technology, health care, beauty and publishing industries to non-profits in Bombay, New York and San Francisco. She has always been drawn to the Afghan story and its people. She hopes to bring her expertise in designing effective communication campaigns to AFN and help further their cause.
Naheed Hasnat, Board Member
Naheed is an Intellectual Property Consultant with more than a decade experience in economic and financial consulting. She is currently a director with Foresight Valuation Group and previously held positions with LECG, ICMG and Anderson Consulting. She has also held market development positions for two Silicon Valley start-ups, including AcrossWorld Communications, and HomeZ She has an MIA from Columbia University and a BS from the University of California, Haas School of Business. She is also the author of a children’s novel, SHOOTING KABUL.
VISION
Afghan Friends Network strives to deliver programs that are consistent with our mission in Afghanistan, and particularly in the province of Ghazni. We endeavor to establish AFN as a highly reputable non-profit organization that empowers and enables its member volunteers and the people of Afghanistan to achieve personal and professional growth through enriching relationships. Because Afghan Friends Network is an all-volunteer, grass-roots organization, we are able to efficiently provide support directly to the people who need it most, setting a high standard for fiscal responsibility and program excellence.
Afghan Friends Network has a deep understanding of the Afghan culture and community. This expertise enables AFN volunteers to provide a unique perspective to a variety of clubs, organizations and school groups interested in learning more about Afghan culture. Through these interactions, AFN volunteers are able to highlight opportunities for greater cooperation between western and Afghan communities.
Afghan Friends Network leverages the technical and professional skills of its volunteers to deliver highly relevant programs that enable the people of Afghanistan to rebuild and support their economy, infrastructure, towns, businesses and families. In addition, through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations that share AFN’s focus and vision, we are able to provide innovative solutions through the introduction of programs, technology, resources and processes that will hasten the advancement of the Afghan people.
Afghan Friends Network has established excellent relationships with key contacts within government, education, business, and the community located within Afghanistan. By nurturing and extending our sphere of influence in Afghanistan, AFN is an extremely agile organization and well-positioned to respond to special requests and urgent needs brought about by the unique circumstances and unstable environment of the region.
CORE VALUES
Community:
People bound together by common goals, values and vision can change the world
Integrity:
Zero tolerance for corruption, dishonesty and unethical behavior creates trust, and builds credibility in the communities we serve
Education:
Freedom & independence can only be achieved through universal access to education & continuous learning
Leadership:
Influencing, motivating, and enabling others to contribute toward the success of the organization, encourages future growth and empowers the community
Empowerment:
By increasing the spiritual, social or economic strength of individuals and communities, we can enable self-sufficiency and confidence
Agility:
Sensing and responding quickly to unexpected environmental changes allows us to maximize our effectiveness
Fiscal Responsibility:
Establishing sound financial management practices and being accountable ensures that donations advance our mission
Partnership:
Joining together with other organizations, enterprises and individuals enables us to deliver more programs more efficiently
Transparency:
The full, accurate, and timely disclosure of information fosters openness and trust with our donors, volunteers and communities served
PRIORITIES
Organizational Priorities:
- Remain laser-focused on our original mission
- Deliver effective and relevant programs
- Build on successes
- Recruit and train more volunteers
- Increase donor base
- Identify new sources of funding (grants, foundations)
- Extend our reach and influence with the press and media
- Establish strategic partnerships that enhance AFN’s purpose