We went to the Japanese Ambassador's Residence for the Ayenda Foundation's 10th Annual Benefit Dinner. Ayenda, which means future, has funded education for women and children in Afghanistan for over a decade. We snapped Acatel Lucent's Marie Royce, Japanese Ambassador Kenichirō Sasae, Ayenda president Shamim Jawad, with Lala Suleymanov and her husband, Azerbaijani Ambassador Elin Suleymanov.
Ayenda has grown thanks to the support from the Washington diplomatic community, former First Lady Laura Bush, and the steadfast commitment from founder Shamim Jawad, wife of the former Afghan Ambassador. Here, the wife of the Spanish Ambassador to the OAS, Casilda Hevia, and Refugees International's Mariella Trager surround Princess Yasmine Pahlavi.
Guests enjoyed a festive cocktail and sushi reception in the Ambassador's beautiful residence, which has an authentic Japanese tea house and manicured gardens with a koi pond. Here Laura Bush's former chief of staff and now American University's Anita McBride, UTC's Timothy McBride, and US-Afghan Women's Council's Mina Sherzoy.
During dinner, we heard from Afghanistan's newest Ambassador, Dr. Hamdullah Mohib. Here Ayenda board members: Friends of AU Afghanistan's Leslie Schweitzer, Direct Relief's Elizabeth Baker, and M. Luis Construction's Cidalia Luis-Akbar.
Guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal with pumpkin lobster bisque and Japanese beef with asparagus. Here, Ayenda supporters Kristen Olson, Samia Aidi and Luma Hakki join MoKi Media's Maha Hakki.
