Running into 2022, a New Year's Message from Stephanie Case
Free to Run began seven years ago as an ‘impossible’ idea. Women and girls running outside in areas of conflict seemed crazy to many. I wasn't even sure if it would work. The challenges seemed insurmountable at times, but the voices of the women and girls, for whom Free to Run was designed, could not be ignored. In many ways, 2021 felt like we were returning to those impossible early times.
In the spring of this year, after months of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were finally able to restart our in-person programming. Shortly thereafter both Afghanistan and Iraq were hit by another wave of the virus affecting staff, participants, and everyone’s morale. Throughout the summer, we watched as the Taliban quickly gained control of vast swathes of territory in Afghanistan before fully taking over the country on 15 August. Our team members lost their homes, their sense of safety and security, and their dreams for their futures. As an organization, we lost access to our funding in Afghanistan, our core country program, and our plans going forward. For a brief moment, Free to Run’s ability to continue seemed like it was in jeopardy…
However, navigating through difficult challenges is in our DNA - standing up in the face of adversity is part of what makes Free to Run’s programs and impact, bold and transformative. As I have always said, if it were easy, someone else would have already been doing it.
While there is a lot to wring our hands about when looking back on this past year, there is much more to celebrate. We were able to successfully evacuate our highest-risk staff members from Kabul. Thanks to the incredible support you provided this fall, and the support of our new Ambassadors who have been working hard to raise funds and awareness for our cause, we have found durable solutions for some of our Afghan female leaders abroad. Meanwhile, our Iraq program continues to grow, and we have set the wheels in motion to expand into new regions of the country next year.
I want to thank all of you for standing with us and our team throughout 2021, which has no doubt been a difficult year for many of you as well. We are going into the new year with renewed energy, ideas, focus and strength. We can’t wait to share with you the news of all of the ‘impossible’ things we’re planning for 2022.
In solidarity,
Stephanie Case
President & Founder
Free to Run
If you have not yet made your year-end donations, it isn’t too late! All donations made to Free to Run are tax deductible in the United States. You can donate online via our website or directly on Paypal to donate@freetorun.org.