What You Can Do

Take Action

You’ve recently watched Beyond Belief, heard Susan Retik at a speaking engagement, or otherwise learned about the desperation of Afghan widows. If you feel compelled to do something, but you’re not sure exactly what, you’re in the right place! We urge you to join us in helping to change lives in Afghanistan — and there are many ways in which you can make a difference. Click on any of the links (left) for suggestions and resources. Or, to make a donation, click here.

Host a screening of Beyond Belief in your home

Reaching out to your friends and family is often a convenient and effective way to begin making a difference and inspire others to do the same. If you’d like to organize and host a screening of Beyond Belief in your home, we have a Planning Guide for Home Screening to facilitate the process as well as a Discussion Guide for leading group dialog after the screening. Contact us for more information.

Organize a screening of Beyond Belief for a larger audience

Share the Beyond Belief story with others on a broad scale. Organize a film screening and discussion in a larger group setting such as a church, mosque, synagogues, school, university, professional organization, or women’s group. If you’d like to organize a screening of Beyond Belief for a large audience, we have a Planning Guide for Large Audience Screening to facilitate the process as well as a Discussion Guide for leading group dialog after the screening. Contact us for details.

Have your book group read an Afghanistan-related book and/or view Beyond Belief

Book groups are an ideal environment for sharing ideas and making discoveries. Consider reading a book related to Afghanistan (peruse Susan’s Bookshelf for ideas and recommendations), which can be discussed with or without a screening of Beyond Belief. (For information on hosting a screening in your home, contact us.) If more convenient than a group screening, members of your book group can view Beyond Belief on their own prior to your meeting (available for instant download via NetFlix).

Fundraise for efforts on the ground in Afghanistan

Staging a fundraising event is exponentially more powerful than making a donation, simply because the outreach efforts that go along with a fundraiser increase awareness and build community around a common cause.

Are you having a party, reunion, or regional gathering? Use your previously planned event as a fundraiser for Beyond the 11th. The money you raise will go directly to programs that empower Afghan widows. For guidance in staging a fundraising event, contact us for our Planning Guide for Fundraisers.
Select another organization with a focus that appeals to you and ask your audience to support their efforts. If possible, invite a representative from that organization to speak about their work in Afghanistan. Set a fundraising goal and ask your attendees to help you reach it.

Build connections between the US and the Muslim world

Our world is increasingly interconnected. What happens in other countries affects what happens in the United States. Thanks to travel, communications, and trade you’re already a part of an international community and you have the power to build links with other nations and peoples. Here’s how:

Host a foreign student, businessperson, or exchange visitor.
Join a welcome group for newcomers to America or start one.
Explore “Sister City” relationships with your town, place of worship, school, or business.
Sponsor an Afghan “sister” through Women for Women International.
Help children recognize and appreciate the world’s diversity through hands‐on experiences abroad, as well as in America’s rich immigrant communities. Plan a family vacation that focuses on building personal connections. Global Buddies is an excellent resource.
Talk directly to women from around the world by joining Peace X Peace and UNIFEM for the Women’s Global Roundtable.
Americans for Informed Democracy’s Hope Not Hate initiative bridges the divide between US and Muslim communities by coordinating and training young people how to hold town hall events, international video conferences, film screenings, regional conferences, and many other activities.

Use your voice effectively

As a citizen of the world, your voice counts. There are many ways to make it heard!

Reach out to your local media. Ask them to provide the in-depth, unbiased coverage you need in order to be informed about the world.
Write letters to local and regional newspapers and magazines and/or submit op‐ed pieces on issues you care about.
Blog about the reality of Afghan widows and share what you’re learning.
Post links to news reports via social media.
Politicians don’t expect to hear from their constituents on international issues. Therefore, your voice — especially office visits and handwritten letters — can make a difference. For more information on how to approach your local representatives, visit Americans for Informed Democracy.
Join or volunteer with nonprofit organizations, whose size and resources magnify your voice. Go to their websites, where it’s often possible to send letters to decision‐makers with the click of a mouse.
Get involved with your local government and find out which positions your community is taking on global issues that hit close to home. Consider joining a committee or running for office.
Vote!
Connect with others who share your interests in global poverty, women’s empowerment, and world events. Take action through CARE Connections and the CARE Action Network.
Read the excellent and inspiring guide provided by US in the World: Talking Global Issues with Americans.

Leverage student strength

Throughout history, students have often acted as powerful agents of change. If you’re a student, there are many things you can do to support the causes you believe in.

Join Americans for Informed Democracy to learn more about important global issues and connect with other young people making a difference. Start a chapter on your campus.
Americans for Informed Democracy’s Hope Not Hate initiative bridges the divide between US and Muslim communities by coordinating and training young people how to hold town hall events, international video conferences, film screenings, regional conferences, and many other activities.
Contact the administrators at your school to suggest a live presentation by Susan Retik.
Organize a screening of Beyond Belief.
Organize a fundraising event (see above).
Register to vote, if you haven’t already. Make sure you know how to cast your vote if you attend school away from home. Then, vote!

Explore the World Trade Center Toolkit

Susan Retik's personal story and the birth of Beyond the 11th are featured in September 11th Personal Stories of Transformation, an online set of teaching materials that give middle and high school students an opportunity to connect the events of September 11th to topics in U.S. history, global studies, civics, character education, immigration and women’s studies. Educators looking for ways to discuss the attacks will find inspiring stories of individuals who were directly impacted by September 11, 2001 and who, in response, developed projects to help make this world a more peaceful, tolerant place. Click here to access the toolkit.



	What You Can Do Host a screening of Beyond Belief in your home Organize a screening for a larger audience Have your book group read an Afghanistan-related book and / or view the film Fundraise for efforts on the ground in Afghanistan Build connections between the US and the Muslim world Use your voice effectively Leverage student strength Explore the World Trade Center Toolkit	Take Action You’ve recently watched Beyond Belief, heard Susan Retik at a speaking engagement, or otherwise learned about the desperation of Afghan widows. If you feel compelled to do something, but you’re not sure exactly what, you’re in the right place! We urge you to join us in helping to change lives in Afghanistan — and there are many ways in which you can make a difference. Click on any of the links (left) for suggestions and resources. Or, to make a donation, click here. Host a screening of Beyond Belief in your home Reaching out to your friends and family is often a convenient and effective way to begin making a difference and inspire others to do the same. If you’d like to organize and host a screening of Beyond Belief in your home, we have a Planning Guide for Home Screening to facilitate the process as well as a Discussion Guide for leading group dialog after the screening. Contact us for more information. Organize a screening of Beyond Belief for a larger audience Share the Beyond Belief story with others on a broad scale. Organize a film screening and discussion in a larger group setting such as a church, mosque, synagogues, school, university, professional organization, or women’s group. If you’d like to organize a screening of Beyond Belief for a large audience, we have a Planning Guide for Large Audience Screening to facilitate the process as well as a Discussion Guide for leading group dialog after the screening. Contact us for details. Have your book group read an Afghanistan-related book and/or view Beyond Belief Book groups are an ideal environment for sharing ideas and making discoveries. Consider reading a book related to Afghanistan (peruse Susan’s Bookshelf for ideas and recommendations), which can be discussed with or without a screening of Beyond Belief. (For information on hosting a screening in your home, contact us.) If more convenient than a group screening, members of your book group can view Beyond Belief on their own prior to your meeting (available for instant download via NetFlix). Fundraise for efforts on the ground in Afghanistan Staging a fundraising event is exponentially more powerful than making a donation, simply because the outreach efforts that go along with a fundraiser increase awareness and build community around a common cause. Are you having a party, reunion, or regional gathering? Use your previously planned event as a fundraiser for Beyond the 11th. The money you raise will go directly to programs that empower Afghan widows. For guidance in staging a fundraising event, contact us for our Planning Guide for Fundraisers. Select another organization with a focus that appeals to you and ask your audience to support their efforts. If possible, invite a representative from that organization to speak about their work in Afghanistan. Set a fundraising goal and ask your attendees to help you reach it. Build connections between the US and the Muslim world Our world is increasingly interconnected. What happens in other countries affects what happens in the United States. Thanks to travel, communications, and trade you’re already a part of an international community and you have the power to build links with other nations and peoples. Here’s how: Host a foreign student, businessperson, or exchange visitor. Join a welcome group for newcomers to America or start one. Explore “Sister City” relationships with your town, place of worship, school, or business. Sponsor an Afghan “sister” through Women for Women International. Help children recognize and appreciate the world’s diversity through hands‐on experiences abroad, as well as in America’s rich immigrant communities. Plan a family vacation that focuses on building personal connections. Global Buddies is an excellent resource. Talk directly to women from around the world by joining Peace X Peace and UNIFEM for the Women’s Global Roundtable. Americans for Informed Democracy’s Hope Not Hate initiative bridges the divide between US and Muslim communities by coordinating and training young people how to hold town hall events, international video conferences, film screenings, regional conferences, and many other activities. Use your voice effectively As a citizen of the world, your voice counts. There are many ways to make it heard! Reach out to your local media. Ask them to provide the in-depth, unbiased coverage you need in order to be informed about the world. Write letters to local and regional newspapers and magazines and/or submit op‐ed pieces on issues you care about. Blog about the reality of Afghan widows and share what you’re learning. Post links to news reports via social media. Politicians don’t expect to hear from their constituents on international issues. Therefore, your voice — especially office visits and handwritten letters — can make a difference. For more information on how to approach your local representatives, visit Americans for Informed Democracy. Join or volunteer with nonprofit organizations, whose size and resources magnify your voice. Go to their websites, where it’s often possible to send letters to decision‐makers with the click of a mouse. Get involved with your local government and find out which positions your community is taking on global issues that hit close to home. Consider joining a committee or running for office. Vote! Connect with others who share your interests in global poverty, women’s empowerment, and world events. Take action through CARE Connections and the CARE Action Network. Read the excellent and inspiring guide provided by US in the World: Talking Global Issues with Americans. Leverage student strength Throughout history, students have often acted as powerful agents of change. If you’re a student, there are many things you can do to support the causes you believe in. Join Americans for Informed Democracy to learn more about important global issues and connect with other young people making a difference. Start a chapter on your campus. Americans for Informed Democracy’s Hope Not Hate initiative bridges the divide between US and Muslim communities by coordinating and training young people how to hold town hall events, international video conferences, film screenings, regional conferences, and many other activities. Contact the administrators at your school to suggest a live presentation by Susan Retik. Organize a screening of Beyond Belief. Organize a fundraising event (see above). Register to vote, if you haven’t already. Make sure you know how to cast your vote if you attend school away from home. Then, vote! Explore the World Trade Center Toolkit Susan Retik's personal story and the birth of Beyond the 11th are featured in September 11th Personal Stories of Transformation, an online set of teaching materials that give middle and high school students an opportunity to connect the events of September 11th to topics in U.S. history, global studies, civics, character education, immigration and women’s studies. Educators looking for ways to discuss the attacks will find inspiring stories of individuals who were directly impacted by September 11, 2001 and who, in response, developed projects to help make this world a more peaceful, tolerant place. Click here to access the toolkit.