We have some fantastic news: thanks to the funds you have donated, we managed to get Abdul*, the first Afghan educator we were in touch with out of Afghanistan, along with his family and into the hands of British government staff in a neighbouring country.

Moving forward we will be working closely with the British Council to identify and help as many people as possible. Your financial assistance will directly support Afghans in travelling to neighbouring countries and whilst they prepare to leave. We are therefore again urgently collecting funds to help them and their families.

We are prioritising educators that worked for the British Council that either already have or are eligible to apply for the UK Government’s ARAP scheme. Once approved, they must first reach neighbouring countries and the winter will be severe. From there, they will receive official support and assistance to reach safety in the U.K.

Abdul*, upon reaching safety, said “I would like to thank the fundraising campaign, donors and the British Council for their support. It has been almost half a year of terrible stress and anxiety with a constant feeling that death was potentially moments away. Reaching safety and seeing my family not in fear for the first time is an indescribable relief. We have, for the first in a long time, been able to go outside freely and not feel like prisoners. My thoughts and prayers are with my former colleagues still in Afghanistan - each donation will make a difference to the numbers evacuated and the options that they have.”

* not his real name