Fleeing Afghanistan and Human Kindness

A story of our times

A Trek from Afghanistan

Last week, I had a heart blowing conversation with Zahra Nazar and Andy Bass about her family’s escape from Afghanistan. All I can say is that if we had millions of caring souls like Zahra and Andy, our world would be so much healthier and vibrant. I am sharing their story here with the hope that if you feel called, you reach out to them or share their story with anyone who can make a difference.

Andy Bass is a former Marine and long-distance runner who competed in races in North Korea, Lebanon, Russia, Uganda and Russia. In 2019, he committed to run the Marathon of Afghanistan, a 26.2-mile race that takes place in the Bamyan region. Andy decided to arrive a week earlier to get acclimated to the city’s elevation of 9,000 feet.

When he arrived, he met a fellow German runner and they decided to explore together. While walking around the town, they came across a women’s market, which was surprising. There he met three incredible women:

• Zahra Nazari, one of the shining lights of the new Afghanistan, a 16-year old women’s rights advocate;
• Bilqis Reza, her mother, the first woman in Bamiyan, central Afghanistan, to open her own shop; and
• Fatima, her 18-year old sister, the…