Afghan American Youth Council Afghan American Youth Council
    Home   About AAYC   AAYC Accomplishments   Contact AAYC  

LA County Fair Ethnic and Cultural Parade – September 11, 2005



In an effort to raise awareness and promote Afghan culture, AAYC participated in the LA County Fair’s Ethnic and Cultural Parade as representatives of Afghanistan per Afghan Consul General Atifmal’s request. The parade was held at the Fairplex in Pomona and attracted thousands of people from across California and the US.

Afghan Jeshen Festival – August 21, 2005



The Afghan Jeshen Festival was a celebration of Afghanistan’s Independence. It was held at the beautiful Marina Del Rey Burton Chase Park and attracted approximately 500 guests. The event featured music by DJ Spice, guest speakers, vendors and prize-winning games. The event was a complimentary service with which AAYC united the Afghan community in Southern California to preserve and promote Afghan culture. An After Party was held at the chic Nairin Café the same evening.

Afghan Art & Film Festival – June 25 and June 26, 2005

On Saturday June 25 and Sunday June 26, 2005 AAYC hosted the Afghan Art & Film Festival organized by Afghan Communicator at Cal. State University, Northridge. For the first time ever, a collection of fine art and original films by Afghan artists embarked on a seven city tour in North America and Canada, including cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Virginia, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Through the Afghan Art & Film Festival, Afghan Communicator and AAYC hoped to promote Afghan art and culture, while exposing the public to the domestic Afghan community.

Daily events included the display of Afghan arts and antiques in the Grand Salon, while movies such as, Sangsaar, Afghanistan After, Afghanistan: A Fragile Peace, Nang, Afghanistan Unveiled, Kabul Nendary, Still Fighting, Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan, The Gem Hunter of Afghanistan, Afghanistan: The Lost Truth, Shabnam, and Democracy Afghan Style were displayed for public viewing in the Pasadena room The reception held on Saturday evening attracted nearly 100 local residents. Guest speakers Ariana Delawari, Faridoon Baqi, Zohra Yusuf Daoud, Dr. Mohammad Qayoumi, and AAYC Founder Farouq Tamiz emphasized the importance of afghan art and culture. The array of speakers was followed by a traditional Afghan dance know as an Attan performed by AAYC members Nasima Karim, Gedei Karim, Gedei Achakzai, Sara Noorzay and Sabrina Noorzay. All proceeds raised from the Afghan Art & Film Festival went directly to the individuals showcasing their talents.


AAYC's Second Annual Eid Benefit Concert - January 28, 2005:



AAYC hosted its Second Annual Benefit Concert on Friday, January 28, at the Hilton Hotel in South Bay, CA, just a week after the Eid holiday. The purpose was to raise funds to help Dr.& Norma Emery's medical training program at the Ali Abaad Hospital in Shar-e-Naw, Afghanistan. Close to 300 guests attended despite the rainy weather and Friday night traffic. Profits from the concert, although slim, are sure to make a difference in the lives of our fellow Afghans back home. The event included live music by Qader Eshpari and Ahmad Zakir, tabla performance by Rahis Khan, comedy by Omar, fresh delicious food and lots of non-stop dancing. Former AAYC Membership Director, Masoud Farand, premiered his documentary "Journey of Hope" to a crowd that was too pleased to see footage of their beloved land, Afghanistan.

AAYC Membership Director's Trip to Afghanistan - August/September 2004:



AAYC Membership Director, Masoud Farand visited Afghanistan in August to donate AAYC funds to the needy people of Afghanistan. He traveled to several provinces including Kabul to survey which areas needed the most help. After careful consideration, Masoud spent $3000, on behalf of AAYC, to help 85 homeless families in a refugee camp in Kabul. These funds will be used for shelter, food, medical aid and other basic survival needs for the next two months, including Ramadan.

Afghan American Youth Summit - September 11, 2004



September 11 struck at the heart of our country... it had been three years since the AAYC was formed and we wanted to reflect on what have we done and what can we do. We invited the young leadership of Southern California to join us for this high profile event. Our guest speakers included Maryam Qudrat, author of Torn Between Two Cultures - an Afghan American Woman Speaks Up, and Hekmat Karzai, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington D.C. The First Secretary shed light on topics such as Activism in Afghanistan, Networking with Afghan Leadership & Govt. Officials, Opportunities, Presidential Election, Security Matters, and more. All attendees from this educational event gained invaluable knowledge and motivation to make a difference for Afghans in Afghanistan and abroad.

Annual Summer Picnic - May 29, 2004:



AAYC's 3rs Annual Picnic (Mayla) attracted over 400 people at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. There were games, food, and all kinds of fun for children and adults. It brought the Afghan Community of Southern California together and generated funds to help AAYC help the needy children in Afghanistan.

Eid Benefit Concert for the Children of Afghanistan - November 30, 2003



AAYC held a Benefit Concert at the Radisson Hotel LAX to collect funds to help the needy children in Afghanistan. There was music, dancing, comedy, food, poetry and good cheer as everyone came out to show their support and celebrate Eid. The event yielded $7,400; half of the proceeds were donated to Afghanistan Relief Organization and International Orphan Care to be used immediately for education, medical aid and shelter. The remaining half will be utilized personally by AAYC members to help children in Afghanistan as part of our humanitarian trip to Afghanistan in the fall of 2004.

Help the Children of Afghanistan Project - July 2003:



AAYC donated $1,000 to Malalay Elementary School in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Named after a brave woman who fought side by side with Afghan men to defend her country against foreign invaders in the twentieth century, Malalay Elementary School enrolls 350-400 girls a year

Red Hot Summer Picnic - June 29, 2003:


AAYC's second annual picnic attracted a crowd of 600 people from all over California. Families came out to have a day of fun in the sun. Adults enjoyed new and classic mixes of Middle Eastern music, mouthwatering kabob and other food and beverages, a competitive volleyball tournament, live entertainment, prize-winning raffle, book signing and meeting new and old friends. Children had a blast running around with friends, playing games, eating ice cream, flying kites and just being themselves. Proceeds from the picnic went towards helping children's schools in Afghanistan.

2nd Annual Ramadan Bakery Project - October 2002:



AAYC collected and donated $2,000 to the Bakery Project spearheaded by Jamshed Kator. This time, we managed to provide a daily ration of bread to 5,000 Afghans in one of the poorest towns in Kabul for the entire month of Ramadan.

Nairin Earthquake Fundraising Dinner - April 27, 2002:



AAYC assisted Zakia and Jamshed Kator organize a fundraising dinner to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Nairin, Afghanistan. The event yielded over $24,000 and helped countless Afghans through this challenging time. Their efforts has resulted in the rebuilding of eleven water wells in Nairin.

AAYC Town Hall Meeting - April 21, 2002:



AAYC, with Mariam Lodin's unrelenting dedication, invited the entire community to join us and discuss many important issues affecting the Afghans here in America and in Afghanistan. Guest Speakers included: Dr. Stanegzai, Sir Edward Artis, Anwar Khan from Islamic Relief, Dr. Daud Abidi, representatives from NISWA and others. Plaques of recognition for outstanding humanitarian work with Afghans were given to panelists such as Sir Edward Artis, Ph.D., K.M., KTJ of Knightsbridge International.

AAYC Picnic - April 7, 2002:



AAYC treated the entire Afghan Community of Southern California to a day of fun in the sun at Woodley Park. The festivities included mouthwatering Kabob and other Afghani foods, an outdoor bazaar, a magic castle playhouse for the children, live music, interactive games and much, much more. More than 700 people were in attendance.


AAYC Banquet - January 18, 2002:



In an effort to unite the Afghan community, AAYC held its 1st annual banquet in Northridge, California. Over 400 Afghans, as well as other community members attended this event for a night of culture and remembrance. The joyous evening included a delicious buffet dinner, live Afghani and American alternative music, a poetry session, informative and inspirational speeches, a slide show, the cutest kids' fashion show and dances one has ever seen!

Islamic Relief's Fundraising Dinner for Afghanistan - Winter 2001:



AAYC donated 1,000 dollars to Islamic Relief's Afghanistan project. These funds were to go to emergency food and medical aid for the war torn victims of the recent war.

Ramadan Bakery Project - October 2001:


AAYC collected and donated $800 to the Ramadan Bakery Project spearheaded by Jamshed Kator. We had contacts in Afghanistan that went to the Jangozay Refugge Camp, one of the poorest refugee camps on the border of Afghanistan, where thousands of Afghans had fled to from the war. We set up a program to feed starving and helpless refugees during the holy month of Ramadan. We managed to provide a daily ration of bread to over 3,000 people.

Please send all questions, comments, and requests to:
© Copyright AAYC.org, 2004-2005. All rights reserved.
Non-Profit Organization, Afghan Website Design company in USA, California, Los Angeles: By