AADO - Afghan Australian Development Organization

AADO welcomed guests to its 2025 AGM and Dinner on 18th November, at the Afghan Gallery restaurant. The 2024-2025 Annual Report and audited Financial Statements - both at https://www.aado.org.au/resources/ - were presented and accepted at the AGM, our NSW based auditors reappointed and our current AADO activities outlined by AADO President Jackie Fristacky AM.

Azadah Raz Mohammad, Afghan lawyer working on human rights projects, spoke at the Dinner, with the appreciative guests participating in a Q&A session afterwards.

The Afghan Gallery has hosted many AADO events and we are sad that it will be closing later this year - our thanks once again for the delicious meal in evocative surroundings! Regrets to those who missed out this special event, but you can still book at the Afghan Gallery until its 31 Dec closing date.

Do donate at https://www.aado.org.au/donate/ to help support our educational programs for the disadvantaged women and girls in Afghanistan.

A reminder for AADO’s Annual General Meeting 6 – 7pm (6.30pm AGM start) on Tuesday 18 November, followed by Dinner 7 – 9pm, at the Afghan Gallery, 327 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Attending the AGM is at no cost, but there is a charge for Dinner and Speaker. The cost is $55 for a set Afghan menu, with drinks available via separate order.
Bookings are not needed for the 6 - 7pm AGM, but essential for the AADO 7 - 9pm Dinner and Speaker, through this TryBooking link:
https://www.trybooking.com/DGYGI
Note that your TryBooking ticket states the 6.00pm starting time for the whole event - AGM and Dinner.

Our AGM Speaker will be Ms Azadah Raz Mohammad, Afghan lawyer, who worked on human rights projects with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Afghan Ministry of Justice. Now a Ph.D. candidate at Melbourne Law School, Azadah in March briefed the United Nations Security Council Meeting on Afghanistan and has recently returned from further such briefings.

April 2025 marked the Graduation of 95 women who had participated in the 20th round of AADO’s Literacy and Livelihoods for Village Women. One participant told us: ‘As a woman and a mother who had not been able to study, this course was a golden opportunity.’ Literacy enables women to access information and knowledge and empowers them to help their children in their school studies and to be role models for other women in their communities.

AADO would love to offer another course for village women, but we do not have the funds to do so. Help us to continue our work by going to www.aado.org.au/donate

Those attending the Afghan New Year 2025 – Nowroz 1404 celebration were privileged to hear Peter Khalil MP speak on the principles, politics and practicalities of overseas aid, both within the Australian context and more broadly on the international scene. AADO celebrated the event on 30th March with a traditional Afghan meal at the Afghan Gallery restaurant.

With his impressive experience and knowledge, Peter was able to inform the guests and answer questions from the floor. Peter saluted AADO’s longstanding and ongoing work in Afghanistan, despite current restrictions. He recognised AADO’s key role as an organisation that is without DFAT funding, but is nevertheless helping achieve Government development objectives.

AADO’s President, Jackie Fristacky, gave an update on AADO’s training programs for women and girls in Afghanistan, ongoing under the Taliban régime, with a reminder that these programs are only funded in 2025 and will require funds to continue in 2026. AADO needs to raise at least $25,000 to continue literacy classes for village women and classes for secondary schoolgirls next year.

You can donate at https://www.aado.org.au/donate/

This year is your chance to be informed and intrigued!

AADO is bringing you a special surprise speaker, with an eminent background in Defence, Foreign Affairs, the Brookings Institute and aid fields. You will hear him speak on Development Aid for Afghanistan as you join us for a celebration of the 2025 Afghan New Year - Nowroz 1404 - at the Afghan Gallery Restaurant, with a traditional Afghan meal.

When? Sunday 30 March 2025, 6-9 pm

Where? The Afghan Gallery Restaurant, 327 Brunswick St, Fitzroy - Route 11 Tram, Stop 16 (Johnston Street)

As Well? AADO President Jackie Fristacky AM will update on AADO training programs for women and girls in Afghanistan, ongoing under the Taliban régime

Registration $60 (plus drinks at bar prices) via Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CZBEW

Bookings required by Tuesday 25 March, so book early to secure your place.

Unable to attend, you can still support AADO literacy courses for women and classes for secondary schoolgirls in Afghanistan and read about our programs in 2024-2025 at www.aado.org.au

A registered ACNC Charity, donations are tax deductible: but make sure you email details to [email protected] so we can send you a tax receipt.

AADO held its AGM on Wednesday 13 November at the Afghan Gallery, 327 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy at which members approved AADO’s Annual Report for 2023/24 and Financial Report for the year. Reports covered activities with continued funding of literacy courses for Afghan village women and Year 12 studies in Science, Mathematics and English for secondary schoolgirls in Kabul. AADO’s financial accounts had been audited and certified by PMK Partners as in compliance with Accounting Standards, the Associations Incorporations Act, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Act and ACFID Code of Conduct.

We were pleased to welcome new Committee of Management members, Cena Farahmand and Nilofar Zabih, following elections for the 2024-2025 committee.

Longstanding Executive Director of Refugee Legal, David Manne, spoke after the AGM on the vital work of his organisation assisting refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan in their applications to settle in Australia. Members and guests also had the pleasure of an appetising Afghan dinner at the Afghan Gallery Restaurant.