ARF's second most important program was developed for widows with children living in the ruins of buildings or without any shelter.  These desperate women keep their children home and out of school to help with work just to earn a living.

The wars have left a segment of the population without a voice, without a home, and without a door to knock on.  Widows are left to themselves with no welfare office to visit.  Many are seen on the streets in Kabul picking through the garbage (see picture top right).

The mother hopes not just to find food or something to sell, but also hopes her child will not have a memory of this. The mother with her seven children, (see picture directly right) relies on garbage picking and neighbors with leftovers.  When the children get sick, the situation is very serious.  One widow said all that she cared about was seeing her children live through the winter.

Three years have gone by since the end of the war and very little aid is in sight.  Our social workers go from neighborhood to neighborhood asking and finding where the widows are with no shelter. How is it possible that they survive each winter's severe cold under tents or in the corners of demolished buildings?  The best thing we can offer them is not just blankets or temporary food assistance, but a sponsorship that hands them $25 a month to get what they urgently need  for survival.  Each widow family is monitored monthly on their status.  At the present, there are about 60 widows who receive a monthly support of $25 per month.  Please email or call us to learn how you can help.