Afghanistan Relief Alliance
Afghanistan’s collapsed economy and broken banking system caused widespread famine and human rights violations due to recent conflicts. While Afghanistan has had chronic food insecurity for years, acute hunger has put the livelihood of millions of Afghans in immediate danger. Due to economic restrictions and sanctions, the financial crisis has severely affected women and children, who face tremendous obstacles to obtaining food, health care, and financial resources. Many families are selling their children- almost always girls- ostensibly for marriage, to get food, or to repay debts.
Afghanistan Relief Alliance was established following a successful project known as the COVID-19 relief. This unincorporated association represented many organizations with the common goal of responding to the economic hardship created in 2020 with the shutdown of businesses and institutions to restrict the spread of COVID-19. The primary form of humanitarian aid was distributing food to families with a wage earner who could not work.
International Orphan Care was chosen as the Fiscal Sponsor of that project and continued to be the fiscal sponsor. At the same time, ARA was formally formed and approved as a non-profit organization with 501 (3) C status.
Afghanistan Relief Alliance was established by a small group of volunteers who are not motivated by title, position, and accolades, helping provide leadership and guidance and pave the way for a long-term and sustainable strategy.
Founding members
Ghulam Feda
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, Ghulam M Feda has more than 30 years of leadership experience in industrial R&D projects, including but not limited to organizational efficiency. He has also served on the advisory
boards of several state colleges and universities was founding member of science and technology centers in the U.S. and abroad, and has been the recipient of a patent award in "Glass Technology" and a Congressional recognition for his work in the implementation of innovative energy efficiency projects.
Engineer Feda is passionate about projects that make promising uses of technology to transform education
An avid traveler, Mr. Feda has written several articles on the architectural techniques of ancient civilizations and about Afghan history and culture. He is co-founder and the president/CEO of Afghan Education for a Better Tomorrow, an organization at the forefront of developing and delivering
educational resources to war-torn Afghanistan.
Farida Shaghasi
Farida Shaghasi is a founding member of the Afghanistan Relief Alliance. Before devoting her time to philanthropic work, Farida worked in information technology (IT), focusing on systems engineering, business process re-engineering, extensive business intelligence, and IT leadership spanning over several years. She’s experienced in building information technology infrastructure, IT business development, vendor management, and system integration across multiple industries. Her experiences include working in the education, banking, and government sectors for global technology companies like Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, NPA West, and the public sector for the State of California Department of General Services.
Farida Shaghsi is also the Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant Integration and Empowerment, a nonprofit organization integrating new immigrants/refugees into American society.
Her favorite quote to live by is: “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”-Winston Churchill
Mike Whipple
Mike Whipple received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from California State University, Long Beach and a Masters of Business Administration from UCLA. Mike was elected to Laguna Niguel City Council in 2000 & 2004 and served as Laguna Niguel Mayor in 2003. He has worked as an engineer, financial consultant and investment banker. He is currently the President to a municipal financial advisory firm. He is a member of Chi Epsilon-National Civil Engineering Honor Society,Tau Beta Pi – National Engineering Honor Society, American Society of Civil Engineers and American Water Works Association. Since 2004 he has been the President of International Orphan Care (IOC) which provides education, health care, nutrition and vocational training to children in Afghanistan
Qasim Tarin
Chairman and founder of Afghan Business Network, Inc US, (501 C3), Chairman and founder of Q Tarin Foundation, (501 C3)
President of Afghan American Chamber of Commerce California (AACC West)(501, C3), CEO and founder of Electro Imaging Systems, Inc., President of Thermasteel Inc. West.
Cofounder of True Renewable Energy Inc. (Solar Company)
Qasim quickly built his own successful consulting business and
Technology business. He has now focused on helping other entrepreneurs develop their businesses worldwide. As an Afghan American, Qasim understands the culture and desires of the Afghan people and can reach out and relate to them. Acting as a business developer to help restore businesses.
Masood Satari
Tamana Ansari
Tamana Yari Ansari is a Farsi/Dari television host with Afghan-American media and a successful Master of Ceremonies (MC) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tamana is bi-lingual. She knows the intricacies of both American and Afghan and Farsi speaking people. Tamana earned a degree on Liberal and Science and completed courses on Mass Communication Journalism.
Tamana’s goal and objective is to promote and empower the Afghan community in the diaspora. She works hard for women's rights and gender equality within the Afghan society and youth success and achievements.
She is an active business associate for a commercial Real Estate (Liberty Business Advisors). She is working on editing her first book, Afghan Women Achievers, which will be published as a coffee table book soon.