ZamZam Foundation Austalia officially launched on Saturday 11 June with over 140 people joining us at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre to raise funds for the education of girls and women still living under the Taliban’s harsh control.

The evening raised just over $8,000 in total — a truly wonderful outcome. Such a sum of money can sponsor the full University fees for 4 orphan girls undergoing undergraduate studies, or feed over 53 starving rural families for a month.

Panel discussion

The highlight of the memorable evening was a panel discussion led by Australian journalist and gender equality advocate, Virginia Hausseger, about life under Taliban rule for the women and girls of Afghanistan.

The panel included

Hon Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service
Mahmoud Saikal, political activist and former Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations from October 2015 until February 2019
Bilal Waheed Sangy, Founder and Executive Director of Massoud Foundation

An appeal from the heart

ZamZam Founder and President, Dr Nilofar Ebrahimi, spoke passionately and movingly about her personal experience growing up in Afghanistan without a father, and the difference that education makes to the lives and futures of girls growing up in a country regarded as “one of the worst places to be a girl or a woman.”

Food, Fashion, Fred Smith, and Fundraising

The evening included a moving and intimate performance by Fred Smith and Lucy Sugarman; dinner with well-loved Afghanistan dishes; a silent auction of art pieces by local and Afghanistan artists; and a fashion show featuring traditional costumes from different provinces around Afghanistan.

We are so grateful and moved by your support.

Thank you to everyone who got involved and showed your support — from giving your time and talents, to sponsoring key event elements, buying tickets, spreading the word, donating to our cause, and turning up on the night to listen with deep compassion. We could not have imagined such a warm welcome and beginning, and we are humbled and thankful for such a community of friends and supporters.

Our deepest gratitude to our guests of honour and esteemed panellists.

Hon Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service
Mahmoud Saikal, political activist and former Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations
Virginia Haussegger, journalist and gender equality activist, for your counsel and for facilitating an important discussion sensitively
Bilal Waheed Sangy, Founder and Executive Director of Massoud Foundation, especially for your long hours of wise counsel and patience.

And for Libby Lloyd, without whom this event could not have been a reality.