Zindabad Afghanistan

This is an urgency piece created to help raise funds for organizations on the ground in Afghanistan as they are in a humanitarian disaster that continues to get worse by the hour.

The total amount raised will be split evenly between the Enabled Children Initiative (you can donate personally at that link) which is a non profit that supports orphaned and abandoned children living with disability in Afghanistan as well as the Hand to Hand Sadaqah Group. They are also a non profit who work to supply aid, build schools, water wells and other things to help better their communities. At the moment they are raising relief funds for displaced families in Afghanistan. You can donate here directly.

UPDATE: $4000.00 was evenly distributed between both organizations and donated. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative.

Via @afghansforabettertomorrow:

In the wake of the exit by American ground forces, the T@lib@n has taken over significant parts of the country, including major cities such as Herat and Kandahar (note from – as of today, August 15th it seems as though they have now entered Kabul as well..) The conflict has picked up significant steam with innocent Afghan civilians bearing the brunt. Deaths and injuries are on the rise; many are fleeing conflict and are now internally displaced within the country. There are reports of women being executed in extrajudicial killings by the T@lib@n as well as restrictions being imposed on women and journalists.

Materials used to make these earrings:

Gold plated brass hardware/ear hooks, Dalmatian Jasper, Black Agate, red heart glass beads, Mookaite, Aventurine, green glass beads.

DALMATIAN JASPER (black and white spots) Is associated with compassion and consolation and may help with mental stress and depression. Dalmatian Jasper is a protective stone.

MOOKAITE (reddish brown/dark mauve/cream) Considered to be a healing stone that bestows strength. Said to shield the wearer from difficult situations. The colors of the stone vary so may not be identical to image in coloring.

AVENTURINE (light green almost jade like in color) Promotes compassion and empathy. Encourages perseverance. Aids in seeing alternatives and possibilities. Calms anger and irritation. Promotes feelings of well-being. It encourages regeneration of the heart.