Frequently Asked Questions

What does HAWPsm mean?

Helping Afghan Women Project

What is Helping Afghan Women Project?

Helping Afghan Women Project (HAWPsm')was founded in September 2004 and granted non-profit statues, as a 501 (c) (3) foundation, in March 2005.

What is the mission of Helping Afghan Women Project?

The mission of HAWPsm is to empower Afghan widows to become self-sufficient; by first meeting their basic needs, then through education and skills training; while, at the same time, to create goodwill for the American people.

We believe that the women of Afghanistan can make a difference in their own country. We want to help these women help themselves through a direct assistance program.

How did HAWPsm begin?

HAWPsm was started when Barbara Spier (President) saw the tremendous need to help these women and children. When Heida Thurlow (Vice President and past President) heard Barbara speak about the huge problem, Heida wanted to help, just as Americans had helped her as a child growing up in war-torn Germany. The other two founding members are Lindmuth “Lynn” Fuller (Treasurer & Operations Manager) and Patricia “Trish” Barry Rumble (Secretary & Scriptwriter: brochures & website). All four founding members continue to be actively involved in growing the organization as they have done from the beginning.

Oranoos Raza is the HAWP Country Manager for Afghanistan. She is instrumental in our efforts to help those in Afghanistan who are in need.

Our Houston HAWPsm board continues to grow. Tracey Brundrett (financial), Julie Bailey (legal) & Khaleda Dakri (fundraising) have been on the HAWP board for 3 years. Catherine Crichton (purchasing and packing), Sholeh Huber (fundraising) & Suhaila Dostyar (packing & Afghan liaison) have been on the board for a year. Out of town board members, Beverly McKenna (college professor in Savannah, Georgia) and Najie Rives (Afghan native living in Ft Worth, Texas) have been members for several years now; and have spent countless hours collecting warm clothing in their towns to be shipped to Afghanistan. Now we are pleased to announce that HAWPsm has two new board members: Greta Hart (public relations) and Connie Smith (printing and photography). With the addition of these new two members to an already stellar board, we know that we have one of the most dynamic, well-rounded and hard-working boards possible. And we are excited about the possibilities of what can be achieved in assisting the widows and orphans in Afghanistan to be self sufficient.

All the women on the HAWPsm board donate their time to help the widows and orphans in Afghanistan. It is an honor to do so.

How do you know that donations get to the widows and orphans in Afghanistan?

We know that all the clothing and purchased items are distributed directly to the Afghan widows and orphans, because we ship from Houston at Chantal Cookware (Heida Thurlow's company) directly to Afghanistan to Barbara Spier's company, U.S. Protection and Investigations. Also items purchased locally in Afghanistan are distributed with the help of volunteers.

Approximately 90% of all monies collected by HAWPsm are used to purchase and ship items that the Afghan widows and children need to exist.

A question to Barbara Spier whose company is in Afghanistan: How did Helping Afghan Women Project hear about the need of the Nazo Ana Primary School

“My assistant Oranoos found out about the school. Her little sister and brother were attending the school; and her little sister told her about the conditions at the school.

There were no chairs, no blackboards, and only one working bathroom … for 3,000 students!1,000 children attend the school from 6 to10 AM; another 1000 children go to school from 10 AM to 2 PM and another 1,000 children attend school from 2 to 6 PM.

The school was not big enough to accommodate 3000 children all at the same time. Oranoos told me, ‘Miss Barbara, the conditions are so bad. Is there something we can do?’” “I got quotes from purchasing agents about the cost for 6 bathrooms in the school. HAWPsm paid for that. The 1000 desks were made locally out of a good wood that would last. The children were so excited when the desks arrived.

When everything was completed, the school administrators asked me to go to the school so they could say thank you for the school renovation and the new desks. There seemed to be a line a mile long of children, throwing flower petals. I couldn’t believe it. I felt so honored. I never expected such a reception. I felt so honored and touched by their outpouring of love and appreciation