For this book club, World BEYOND War President Kathy
Kelly will join the two authors who have written their remarkable story .
. . and 18 of you.
In September, 2025, World BEYOND War will be holding a weekly discussion for each of four weeks of the book Our Journey from Afghanistan: A Story of Survival and Hope with the authors Zar & Kasim, and with Kathy Kelly.
When you register for the club, we will mail you a paperback copy of the book.
We'll let you know which parts of the book will be discussed each week along with the Zoom details to access the discussions.
When:
For one hour on Tuesday September 2, 9, 16, and 23, at 11 a.m. in
Honolulu, 2 p.m. in Los Angeles, 3 p.m. in Mexico City, 5 p.m. in New
York, and Wednesday at 7 a.m. in Sydney or 9 a.m. in Auckland.
Where: Zoom (details to be shared upon registration).
This is a small group series with limited space of up to
approximately 18 people. Sign up to reserve your spot. We look forward
to reading and discussing this important book with you!
About the Book
Kasim and Zar, partners and members of
Permaculture for Refugees (P4R), have co-authored a moving new book
chronicling their path from childhood under oppression to activism,
community-building, and eventual resettlement in Portugal. The book
traces their use of permaculture to support refugee resilience in
Pakistan and their courageous efforts to evacuate their community. More
than a survival story, it's a testament to hope, resilience, and the
pursuit of peace.
Excerpt
"...We walked for almost three hours in the deep, dark night, with no light
to guide us except for the stars, which shimmered as they always did. Gradually
the sky began to lighten, but I was so tired, restless, and confused that I
didn’t know what I was doing. I became irritable, just wanting a small place
where my parents could sit so I could close my eyes for a moment.
"From a distance, I spotted a little group of houses. We were slowly making
our way toward them, thirsty and desperate for a spring. Seeing those houses
gave me a glimmer of hope; maybe there would be water there.
"As we finally reached the small village nestled at the base of the towering
Baba Mountains, the sun was rising, its light gently touching our faces. But we
were so exhausted that we couldn’t feel the warmth. My six-month-old brother
was hungrier than any of us. My mother hadn’t eaten in over a day, so she
couldn’t produce enough milk for him, and there was nothing else to feed a baby
his age.
"That night, we lost my paternal grandfather and my uncle’s children. They
had ended up in another valley, and no one knew where anyone else was.
"If I had known that would be the last night we would be together, I would
have frozen time, never letting my gaze leave my father. The sorrow of those
days pressed down on us so heavily that all I could think about was sleep.
"I might have fallen asleep on the way because I remember nothing of that
night. When I woke up in the morning, my father was beside me. He said, ‘My
daughter, I’m glad you’re awake. We must get to the mountains earlier today.
Perhaps today will be the last day of this massacre...'"
Praise for the Book
"For much of the last 45 years,
Afghanistan has been caught between superpowers and internal conflict,
earning its nickname, the Graveyard of Empires. Invaded by the Soviets,
occupied by the U.S., and ruled by the Taliban, the country has endured
relentless warfare, devastating millions of lives.
"When war comes, people face three choices: flee, fight, or
perish. Many escape as refugees, while others resist, often driven by
deep beliefs. Wars rooted in religion are particularly brutal, revealing
humanity’s darkest sides.
"An acquaintance introduced me to a young couple from
Afghanistan—educated, ordinary people with an extraordinary story. This
is their journey." —Robert J. Moriarty
Kathy Kelly
Kasim & Zar will be joined by Kathy Kelly, board president of World BEYOND War. From 2022 to 2024
she co-coordinated the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal. Since the
Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, she has co-coordinated an
international network to assist young Afghans forced to flee their
country. She made over two dozen trips to Afghanistan from 2010 – 2019,
living with young Afghan Peace Volunteers in a working-class
neighborhood in Kabul.
Tickets
All three levels get you the same: a signed copy of the book and
participation in the four-session book club. Choose the donation amount
that fits your budget. We're trying to help some folks get in for less
while asking those who can pay more to do so.
World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war.
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