We are honored to welcome the director and founder of Kids4AfghanKids, Ms. Khris Nedam, to Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan, for the second official lecture series event. Ms. Nedam will discuss her experiences and work in Afghanistan over the past several decades.

The Taliban’s rule drastically changed Afghan society, reversing progress being made in women’s rights and political freedoms. Education, particularly for women suffered immensely and access to schooling for girls was banned by the Taliban regime.

Before the Taliban takeover in the 1990’s Ms. Nedam worked in refugee camps throughout Afghanistan and later taught at the International School in Kabul. When the Taliban seized power the first time, she and other foreigners were forced to leave, with some, including herself, being placed on a list of individuals unwelcome in the country. Undeterred, Ms. Nedam returned to Michigan and, alongside her sixth-grade class, funded the nonprofit organization Kids4AfghanKids. This initiative established connections with community leaders in a remote village outside of Kabul and resulted in friendships developed between Afghan children and the children in Michigan.