World Ark Magazine - January/February 2008 - (Page 13) Ann Rubin Afghans for Afghans founder Ann Rubin knows handmade gifts can be strong symbols of friendship. So when Afghanistan was invaded after the Sept. 11 attacks, Rubin encouraged her fellow knitters to pick up their needles and get to work. Ann Rubin didn’t know what the Taliban Kabul help send the clothing and blankets to was when she traveled to Pakistan in 1999. people who need them. The knitters and crocheters who donate Looking back, she sees that the anti-American billboards and refugees trooping through the to afghans for Afghans come from across the Khyber Pass from Afghanistan were signs of the political spectrum, which is fine with Rubin. war to come. It was these images, along with “We get people donating to us for all sorts of memories of the poor children camped out reasons,” she said. “Some have a son who’s a beside the border to trade money with foreign- soldier in Afghanistan, and they want to help ers, that popped into her head when the bombs the people there. Some say, ‘My government doesn’t represent how I want to operate in the started falling in 2001. Rubin learned to knit as a high school world.’” The afghans for Afghans project has become exchange student in Germany. When the Afghan invasion began, she felt a strong urge to nearly a full-time job for Rubin, who also holds help by getting to work with needles and yarn. down another paying full-time job. Her dedica“It was almost an instinctual reaction,” Rubin tion hasn’t waned despite the long hours. In fact, said. “In times of trouble, whenever there’s war Rubin is hoping to take afghans for Afghans to or tragedy, knitters think, ‘What can I knit?’ It a new level soon by encouraging Afghans to comes out of this long-time Red Cross tradition start micro-enterprise projects to sell fair trade, handspun yarn. Knitting and wool production of knitting for soldiers and refugees.” With the tech boom recently fizzled in her have long been a strong part of Afghan culture, hometown of San Francisco, Rubin and many but reinvigorating that tradition will be diffiof her computer-savvy friends had some extra cult during such troubled times. Still, Rubin is dedicated to keeping the time on their hands. So Rubin enlisted help in creating a website to get out the call for cozy donations flowing for as long as they’re needed hand knits to serve as symbols of warmth and and to helping the Afghan people regain their livelihoods. “I don’t want to forget the Afghan friendship. Afghans for Afghans was born. These crafty gifts hold value for the giver people. They’re forgotten a lot,” she said. “We and the people in Afghanistan who wear them, want to stick with it to prove we’re not going to Rubin said. “It may not be the most efficient way give up on Afghanistan.” Visit www.afghansforafghans.org to learn of doing things, but you see the news and feel helpless and despondent. With this, you can more about Rubin and her organization. actually do something and know your hat or your sweater will make someone more comfortable during the winter.” Rubin said she continues to be impressed by ★ Born and raised in Los Angeles the quality of the donations, all of which must ★ Master of Business Administration, UC Berkeley be crafted from 100 percent natural fibers. So ★ Learned to knit as a high school exchange far, knitters and crocheters from the United student in Germany States and Canada have stitched up more ★ Named 2006 Knitter of the Year than 60,000 items for their distant friends. ★ Won the Jefferson Award for service in 2007 Organizations including Church World Service, Afghans for Tomorrow and Cure Hospital in knitter STATS www.heifer.org January/February 2008 | WORLD ARK 13 http://www.afghansforafghans.org http://www.heifer.org
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