Project Raha Gallery Opening
Sisters of Service traveled to New York City for the gallery opening of Project Raha.
Affirmation Arts Gallery Opening
On November 2, 2023 Sisters of Service traveled to New York City for the Project Raha gallery opening at Affirmation Arts. The event was a partnership between SOS, Command Purpose and Jen Hassin. We were able to finally see the art we created in Texas on display. The art was made over the course of two weekends in Buda, Texas with the help of artist Jenn Hassin. The space was filled with joy and excitement as everyone walked around pointing out the pieces they helped to make. If you are interested in seeing or purchasing the art check out the Artsy webpage!
“On the first day when I went to Texas and painted, I didn’t think that one day my painting would be installed on the wall of a museum and people would come and see and buy! When I went to the museum and saw that there, I thanked God.”
– Adila, FTP
“Everything this weekend was special for me and seeing our art work showed us a new way to tell our story with each pieces sharing a different history. One with flowers honored one of our best friends who passed in Afghanistan. One of a woman hugging her child reminds us how far from the arms of our family in Afghanistan we are and that every moment our heart wants a motherly hug in the midst of all our daily problems to tell us to be strong. I really appreciate each person that has supported this program to share our story and voice through art. Teamwork makes dream work.”
– Nazdana, FTP
Navigating the NYC Subway
We flew in from all over the country to reunite and learned how to navigate the New York public transportation system together. We realized it takes us longer to get anywhere we are going- not because we are lost- but because when we are finally able to see each other in person we can’t stop talking, hugging, and laughing. Getting where we are going is only half as important as the time we are spending with each other.
9/11 Memorial and Museum
We had the honor of spending the day at the 9/11 memorial and museum where we were welcomed by the museum director Cliff Chapin along with Port Authority Police Officer Gloria Frank. We were given our tour by the post 9/11 Commander of the Rescue and Recovery Operations John Ryan, retired NY Firemen Tim Brown and Cait Leavy the daughter of a NY Firefighter and founder of the 9/11 visionary program. Their stories of resiliency, friendship and perseverance in the aftermath of 9/11 brought tears to our eyes and strengthened our common bond of selfless service and sacrifice.
At the memorial we added flowers to The Survivor tree, a Callery Pear tree, that endured the attacks on 9/11 and was brought back to health and replaced in front of the memorial.
After visiting the museum we were invited to lunch at O’Haras, a restaurant bar which became a place of refuge for the brave men and women who worked tirelessly at ground zero. The walls of O’Haras are almost entirely covered in unit patches and coins commemorating those tho serve. The newest addition to the sacred walls of O’Haras is a plaque honoring the Afghan Female Tactical Platoon adorned with a pink army woman and a coin from the Cultural Support Team who served in Afghanistan. The Afghan women being invited to add a plaque to the wall was a symbolic representation that these women fought along side Americans and because of their sacrifices and commitment they forever deserve to be commemorated with the many American service members in O’Haras.
“It’s hard to express in words how grateful we are for everything you have done. Your kindness and generosity have left an indelible mark on our hearts. You all have gone above and beyond to make us feel special and loved, and we can not thank you enough for that. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for organizing such an amazing event. The time, effort and attention to detail you put into it did not go unnoticed. You created an unforgettable experience that we will cherish forever. Thank you for being there for us, listening to us, and guiding us through difficult times. Your unwavering support has not gone unnoticed. You have inspired us to be better and to do better, and for that we are forever grateful. Your encouragement has given us the confidence to pursue our dreams and achieve our goals. We couldn’t have done it without you. You have been a vital part of our journey, and we are honored to have you by our side.”
– Mina, FTP
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
We tried to experience as much of the city as we could. We went to the NYC Marathon Parade of Nations to cheer on two Afghan runners. We took a ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. At the Statue of Liberty we climbed 276 steps to the platform where we were able to look back to the city. From the Statue of Liberty we took the ferry to Ellis Island where we explored the Ellis Island Museum. The museum visit was special because it allowed the Afghan women to see the history of immigration into the United States and the SOS Mentors were able to share the history and stories of their own families immigration to the United States. In China town the Afghan women tried their first Chinese food- to include dumplings and lo mein.
“Since Afghanistan fell and I came to America, I have no relatives or friends here except CST and FTP. I feel relaxed and happy when I am with them. Well, If I’m home, I have no where to go except school and when we travel to such places and see each other and do group work, it makes me happy and I hope for life and I don’t feel alone. And your help so that we can travel and see each other closely and enjoy life because it is difficult for us to pay for plane tickets hotels and we can not afford them. Thank you all for helping us and making us happy.”
– Adila, FTP
“We ate Chinese, Afghan, and American food, all of them were good, but for me- Chinese food was the most interesting because I didn’t know how to eat it and I learned with the help of my friends.”
– Rana, FTP
