By Kirsty Ross
A TARNEIT woman with a heart of gold is pursuing a dream to shelter homeless and orphaned natives from her Afghani homeland.
Fazila Tasmim-Hajeb is already successful in this pursuit through her not-for-profit group, Tents4Peace.
In 2005, the Tents4Peace project raised $150,000 and sent more than 1000 good- quality tents to the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan.
And early last year the group raised another $150,000 to build an orphanage in Kabul to bring home Afghani refugees living in camps just over the border in Peshawar, Pakistan.
The orphanage is due to be complete in June and will shelter 120 children.
Ms Tasmim-Hajeb felt compelled to help after visiting Afghanistan 17 months ago – her first trip back after moving to Australia 22 years ago.
“I wanted to see the situation after the war, after escaping,” she said.
“When I went there I got into going to the refugee camps and the situation was shocking.
“They don’t have a life, many are barefoot in the winter and living in cardboard boxes …
“It really changed my mind, to do something,” she said.
The 31-year-old language teacher and SBS radio announcer teamed up with her good friend, Tasmanian lawyer, Anna Crotty, to form the group. Funds enabling the pair to carry out their work were largely raised in response to a successful radio interview.
The pair raise money continually for the orphanage’s success, and will take turns visiting Afghanistan to ensure the orphans are not left alone.
Ms Tasmim-Hajeb will visit again next month to help put the final touches to the building and move the children across from the camps to the orphanage
“This time I might stay a couple of months,” she said. “It’s a long process, we’re really just taking our first steps.”
The next fundraising event is a charity concert featuring internationally acclaimed sitar player, Khalil Gudaz, at 7.30pm on Saturday, 21 April, at Fitzroy Town Hall.
They hope to raise $10,000 to supply coal, shelter and warmth to destitute families to survive the freezing winter.
Tickets cost $25 for the show and can be bought at the venue, on the corner of Moore and Napier St, Fitzroy.
For more information see www.tents4peace and www.khalilsitar.com
