“This book event successfully brought together many Afghan groups which wasn’t been done in the past. To hear positive news, success stories and to feel sense of hope is what we had been waiting for.” -Event Participant, Fremont, CA
At a time when war was tearing Afghanistan apart, the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) – a public-private partnership between the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Government of Afghanistan, the Government of France and La Chaine de l’Espoir. was established to provide access to high quality, affordable and sustainable healthcare to vulnerable populations. But perhaps more than that, the Institute has become a symbol of hope for the people of Afghanistan. It’s no wonder that the Institute’s governing body Chairman, Lee Hilling, wrote a book about the everyday successes and impact of FMIC – aptly titled, A Place of Miracles.
To celebrate the book’s launch, the Aga Khan Council for the Western United States organized various activities, including a talk by Hilling at Stanford University Medical School’s Center for Innovation in Global Health, and a book launch and reception co-hosted with the City of Fremont and the Afghan Coalition.
Hilling’s presentation described the impact of FMIC on the quality of care now available in Kabul and the impact it has had on the lives of people there.
The talk was the perfect preamble for the book’s official launch held in the City of Fremont – home to nearly 15,000 Afghans, the largest concentration of the community in North America. Mayor of Fremont City, Lily Mei, welcomed guests and appreciated the work of the AKDN and FMIC in Afghanistan. She emphasized the City of Fremont’s commitment to the Afghan community and highlighted some of the critical services that the city has provided to empower the refugee families. She also presented tokens of appreciation to Hilling and to Suraiya Ali, member for the Aga Khan Council for Western United States.
The much-anticipated presentation and panel discussion by Hilling and Masood Satari from the Afghan Professional Network, was everything the audience had hoped for, in many cases overwhelming them with happiness on hearing good news from Afghanistan.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen a gathering that brought together so many members of the Afghan community,” said an attendee. “It’s heartening to hear positive news and learn about some of the success stories in Afghanistan, where sometimes it’s difficult to find hope.”
Hilling continued to answer questions and provide comments to the audience while signing books. City officials, non-government organizations, members of academia as well as media attended the launch. The event was complete with a variety of traditional Afghan delicacies and tea, coupled with recorded music by Homayun Sakhi, as well as an art exhibition by Abdul Sakroor Khusrawy, a local Afghan artist.
At the end of the event, Lee was interviewed by Tamana Ansari of Fanous Show on Payam-i-Afghan television, a show that reaches audiences in North America, Canada, and Europe.
The event was organized with the assistance of Rona Popal, who has been been serving the Afghan Community in the Bay Area for over 20 years, helping refugees and women from Afghanistan.
The Aga Khan Council for the Western United States, in partnership with the Consulate General of Afghanistan and the International Visitors Council for Los Angeles organized a discussion of Hilling’s book at the University of Southern California’s Medical Center, where Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdul Majied Danishyar, commented on the FMIC’s contribution to the country. Other events were organized by the Council at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and with various physicians at Shine Humanity.
