Hooshko - Welcome

Shadow and Mirage

J.S

I am an asylum seeker who fled Afghanistan due to the dangers I faced for my humanitarian work supporting women and children
My activities with international projects put me at risk of prosecution by the Taliban
I am now seeking a safe place for myself and my family, away from threats and violence

46years without identity

Among the Alleys of Herat – Echoes of Addiction and Survival

Among the winding alleys of Herat, a journey began—a search where every step revealed a bitter story of how addiction starts. In this ancient city, amidst scattered crowds, we encountered individuals struggling with drug addiction—faces marked by hardship, yet behind each of them was a family: a child, a spouse, a sister, a mother, or perhaps a father.

Sitting with them and listening to their stories opened a window into deeply troubled hearts. Each person had a different path into darkness: one broken by unfulfilled love, another seeking temporary pleasure, some led astray by bad friends, others drawn into drug-filled parties, and many lost in exile—far from their loved ones.

They shared dozens of reasons for how they fell into addiction. They were alive, but without will—present in the world, yet detached from life.

Each story, both beautiful and painful, reflected a life adrift, missing the balance and connection that could have anchored them to a better future.

Chaos in Herat

The rapid collapse of Afghan cities, especially Herat, brought fear and insecurity to countless families facing uncertain futures.

Faces of Addiction

Behind every struggle with addiction lies a human story — families torn apart yet clinging to hope amidst hardship.

Silent Voices

Despite hope in international aid, many were left alone, confronting danger and despair with little support.

A Glimpse into the Journey – Faces Behind the Stories

At first, we only listened to these individuals because they were absolutely unwilling to provide any information about their families. Through repeated visits and by gaining their trust, we managed to obtain the addresses of some of them who were in Herat. These addresses became the starting point for an important action. Once we had an address, if it was within our monitored area, we would visit them along with a female doctor and nurse. If it was outside our area, we reported it to Office Number Two for follow-up. The KOR project in Herat had two offices, and activities were divided among outreach teams based on the city’s districts.

The first step began in several areas of Herat in our section: the Minarets area of Herat, the Kamar Kalagh area, and a park near a gas station called Tank-e-Molavi.