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I believe a single human can make a huge difference . I believe in the magical powers of women and think they will persevere .
”
AFTER HER BEAUTY CAREER TAKES OFF , FARA DECIDES TO GIVE BACK
Fara grew up in her mother ’ s salon in California , working there every weekend and reading fashion magazines like Vogue . “ That ’ s when my love for beauty began ,” she said . “ I knew I wanted to get into that business .” After working at a make-up counter in her local mall as a teenager , Fara moved to Los Angeles to work for a cosmetics company . She later went to New York City to pursue her career as a makeup artist .
After years of hard work , Fara began to catch the attention of fashion magazines and fashion designers who wanted to use her for their shows . Her client list gradually came to include supermodels and some of the hottest names in Hollywood .
Fara is now busy planning the launch of her own brand of cosmetics , finding inspiration from old photographs of her parents in Afghanistan before the Soviet invasion and the rise of the Taliban . “ Kabul was so forward , such a modern city , so rich in art and beauty , and women had so much liberty ,” she explained . “ My mother always had an eye for design and beautiful things . … Now I see how stifling it is for women — also men — but more so for women .”
Fara is aware of how the generosity of others freed her from that stifling life , and that led her to become a CAI donor . “ Had we not left Afghanistan , had we not known the Nielsens , what opportunities would I have had compared to what they are now ?” she asked . “ If I can give back in a small way , that would be something .
“ Being here , being able to get educated , start my business , I know that
would have been an uphill battle in Afghanistan ,” she continued . “ I think with CAI , the girls who are dying to have this education , who want to learn , want to become businesswomen — through CAI , some of that could be possible .”
COMBINING GIRLS ’ EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET
Fara ’ s desire to help Afghan women and girls has continued to grow . She recently decided to commit to donating a percentage of the proceeds of her new makeup business to CAI . “ I ’ m putting everything into this brand ,” she said . “ I have faith it will do well . Having that faith , I know that the better I do , the more I can give . If I was going deep down into my own pocket , I couldn ’ t give nearly as much .”
Fara is making her donations to CAI through 1 % for the Planet , an organization that advises environmentally conscious businesses on how to make the biggest impact with their financial contributions and links them to nonprofits whose work advances environmental stewardship and combats climate change .
In 2022 , CAI was approved to participate in the 1 % for the Planet network . While CAI is not a typical environmental nonprofit organization , there is substantial evidence of the enormous role educated women play in a healthier planet . For example , women make up more than 50 % of the world ’ s farmers , and when
Photo : Ellen Jaskol these women farmers are educated , they are able to use improved agricultural practices . Educated women also tend to spread out their pregnancies and have fewer children , which helps keep the developing world ’ s exploding population growth in check . Women have an incredibly important role to play in our planet ’ s future , but they can ’ t make these contributions unless they are educated .
With all that has happened in Afghanistan over the past year since the Taliban regained control , Fara often worries about the country ’ s future . But she also has reason for hope , which motivates her to continue to contribute . “ I believe where there is a will , there is a way ,” she said . “ I believe a single human can make a huge difference . I believe in the magical powers of women and think they will persevere .” u
( For more information on how to contribute proceeds from your business to CAI via the 1 % for the Planet network , see www . onepercentfortheplanet . org .)
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