Who we are
About Us
Afghan Advantage bridges critical services and skills gaps for our Afghan allies by empowering women to gain functional and cultural literacy in their new country, strengthening entire families.
Literacy first
English with trilingual teachers
Community-led
Co-designed with Afghan women
Valuable partnerships
Foundations, government and civic orgs
501(c)(3) nonprofit
Tax-deductible donations
Our Story
Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Women building community.
Providing a path forward through teaching, teamwork, and trust.
2019
FRIENDSHIPS BECAME A NETWORK
In Tukwila, Afghan moms walked with their young children to a free neighborhood English class. Students invited volunteer teachers into their homes to meet friends and relatives, and these 1-on-1 visits built mutual trust, broadened perspective, and spread by word of mouth. Together, Afghan women and volunteers connected with churches, mosques, synagogues, and community organizations to form the Wholeheart Refugee Alliance (WHRA)—an informal, interfaith mutual-aid network that reached 700+ refugees with friendship, perinatal support, apartment setup, driving lessons, employment help, eviction prevention, and systems navigation.
2020 - 22
SHONA BA SHONA · SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
As Afghan women gained stability, many joined the work as leaders and trusted community guides. Through the pandemic and 2021 Taliban takeover, the WHRA team shared reliable resources, partnered with regional nonprofits, and responded to urgent needs of new arrivals. A small neighborhood English class team-taught by an Afghan and American woman began meeting in homes and online. Others tutored women in Afghanistan online.
2023
AFGHAN ADVANTAGE (AA+) FOUNDED
The community needed more. A core group of women, mostly Afghans, founded AA+ as a 501c3 to fill service gaps witnessed firsthand – centering on self-reliance for women isolated at home with limited native language literacy or English. Trust and mutual respect remain at the heart of AA+ programs in Dari, Pashto, and English.
today
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN THREE COUNTIES
Three programs have served 1,000+ Afghan women and girls across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties—building skills and confidence in women as family anchors, school advocates, and community leaders. AA+’s 100% mobile, rent-free model meets students where they are—geographically, linguistically, and culturally. A grassroots network and dozens of community partners power innovation, efficiency, and sustainability within Washington’s Afghan community of ~25,000.
Read more about the unique needs of Afghan women and girls
Who We SERVE
Afghan women and girls – eager to learn, build confidence and contribute to their community.
Programs center on the thousands of Afghan women and girls in WA facing compounding challenges distinct from other immigrant refugee populations due to systemic gender exclusion, low native-language literacy, war and poverty. Their plight is unique in the world; Afghanistan ranks at the bottom of global human rights for females. AA+ exists to support their journey to independence.
of AA+ students have zero previous education or literacy in their native language
are mothers and full-time caregivers; 100 kids under 5 years old attend AA+ classes weekly with mom
Afghans in WA state - 3 counties; King County is a top 4 resettlement area in the nation
Female Afghan literacy rate; lowest in the world
of AA+ board & staff are educated, multilingual, Afghan women
Women-led leadership
An untapped force for community leadership.
Our team lives and works in the communities we serve. With firsthand experience as refugees, they understand the intersectional challenges facing their neighbors. Many directed similar work in Afghanistan before resettling in WA. AA+ also supports an intergenerational literacy-to-leadership pipeline for students to be community organizers.
"شانه به شانه— .
Community-driven programs
exponential Demand and growth.
AA+ is trusted in the community. Students find us through word of mouth and tell us that our trilingual programs are life changing and reduce isolation. We have waitlists for our successful phonics-based pre-ESL, 100% mobile English classes and systems navigation training. When women rise, communities thrive.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
High Impact, Low Overhead
Cost-effective budget and 100% mobile program model serves 500+ learners annually
- 85% Direct Services, invested in Afghan women employees primarily
- 7% professional services
- 8% supplies and subscriptions
- 0% spent on rent
- Maximizes resources for hybrid online/in-person programs
staff & board
our collaborative team all teach, plus contribute to daily operations
Staff
Parwin Adabyar,
- Teacher/Program Director
Sahar Hameed,
- Teacher/Compass Connection Program Coordinator
Sarah Oman Jacobsen,
- Teacher/Executive Director
Lisa Kirchner,
- Teacher/Volunteer Specialist
Sharon Kong,
- Teacher/Compass Connection Program Coordinator
Ellen McCartan,
- Teacher/Operations Specialist
Fatima Nabizada,
- Teacher/Technology Specialist
Sarah Saad,
- Teacher/Curriculum Specialist
Tuba Saad,
- Teacher/Transportation Specialist
Hila Safi,
- Teacher/Translation Specialist
Sana Sultan,
- Teacher/Data Specialist
Elisa Tehero,
- Teacher/Legal Specialist
Farzana Asghar Zada,
- Teacher/Public School Liaison
Board Members
Farida Hakim,
- Senior Advisor