All are invited to hear Razia Jan, founder and President of Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation, speak on February 7 at the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley.
 
Razia Jan at Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley
February 7
7:15 AM - 8:30 AM
Emma's Cafe: 117 Great Road (Route 117), Stow, MA
 
RSVP: info@nashobarotary.org
 

Razia has worked for many years to forge connections between Afghans and Americans. Her humanitarian efforts are honored in First Lady Laura Bush's 2016 book We Are Afghan Women.

Born in Afghanistan, Razia moved to the United States in 1970. The proprietor of a small tailoring business in Duxbury, Massachusetts for 20 years, she served as president of the town’s Rotary Club. In the aftermath of September 11, Razia rallied her adopted New England community to send over 400 homemade blankets to rescue workers at Ground Zero after September 11. Her efforts expanded to include sending care packages to US troops in Afghanistan. Through her involvement in the military’s Operation Shoe Fly, she coordinated the delivery of over 30,000 pairs of shoes to needy Afghan children. Her handmade quilts commemorating September 11 have been exhibited at Madison Square Garden, the chapel at the Pentagon, and at fire stations in New York and Massachusetts.

Razia has received many awards for her humanitarian work, including a 2012 CNN Top 10 Hero award, the 2007 Woman of Excellence award from Germaine Lawrence Inc., multiple Rotary Club International Peace Awards, and certificates of appreciation from the Army Corps of Engineers and the American Legion. 

With support from many individuals and Rotary clubs in this area, the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley recently sponsored a global grant to fund a new midwifery school in Afghanistan through her organization, Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation. In her presentation, Razia will share her experiences working in Afghanistan as well as provide an update on the school.

For more information about Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation, visit https://raziasrayofhope.org/.
 
Providing a Ray of Hope