Support Deaf Art and Deaf Education in Afghanistan

Support a Deaf artist in the Visually Speaking community in Seattle and the Deaf community in Kabul, Afghanistan. 🙌

This painting by Aistė Rye titled A Woman’s Vibration was inspired by the resilient women in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.
On March 23, 2022, the Taliban unexpectedly banned girls beyond the sixth grade from attending school in most of the country. This not only affected girls but also Deaf elementary school students at the Afghanistan School of the Deaf from further pursuing their education, including ASL education, due to their school closing. Some students traveled for hours so they could attend the school for the Deaf because there are few options and resources for Deaf education in Afghanistan.

In December 2021, the organizer of the school’s GoFundMe campaign, Nigel Walker, was able to organize food packets for the poorer families of Deaf children. Before the takeover of the country by the Taliban, Nigel’s team had successfully purchased art supplies for the children but just as they were heading to the school, chaos erupted in Kabul as the Taliban moved in.
As schools reopen, Nigel and their team will be returning to Kabul this month with the sole purpose of distributing the funds and supplies and continuing other projects in health and education across the country.

FUNDRAISER DETAILS:
Aistė’s goal is to raise $5,000 by Sunday, April 24, 2022, to support the Afghanistan School of the Deaf via their GoFundMe campaign (the school’s campaign has raised $11,480 of their $20,000 goal).
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Purchase a limited edition giclée print of A Woman’s Vibration by Aistė Rye to support the Afghanistan School of the Deaf.

🖼 Choose from two print sizes:

— 24”h x 18”w ($350 each, Editions 35) $325 (shipping included)

— 17”h x 11”w ($150 each, Editions 35) $125 (shipping included)

50% of the proceeds from each print will be donated to the Afghanistan School of the Deaf to support school supplies and help the school expand, improve, and stabilize operations for years to come. Most of all, it will keep education a possibility for Deaf children.

🔗 Learn more about the Afghanistan School of the Deaf and their GoFundMe campaign here.

HOW TO PURCHASE PRINTS:
📧 Email the artist, Aistė Rye, at hello@aisteryecreative.com to confirm your interest in purchasing a print. Let Aistė know your preferred print size (24”h x 18”w or 11”h x 17”w) and delivery method (shipping or drop-off in the Seattle area).