THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL-MAY 2025 61 troops accomplish missions that otherwise might not be possible. My work as Spirit of America’s director of international communications often comes full circle to my time as a Foreign Service officer. Ten years ago, as a public affairs officer in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I led a communications campaign to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. Today, at Spirit of America, I am helping the U.S. mission to Germany and its local partners in Leipzig mark the 80th anniversary of liberation through an independent digital campaign to educate young people about the role of U.S. troops in securing the freedoms we now enjoy. The lesson is clear: Whether inside or outside of government, we can all play a part in promoting American values and partnership. Embassy Dushanbe public affairs team member Shefali Agrawal and Chaz Martin at Afghan refugee school in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, December 2021. COURTESY OF CHAZ MARTIN Department of Defense and inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act. Because Spirit of America neither seeks nor receives U.S. government funding, it can often operate faster and more flexibly than government-funded partners. In Tajikistan, Spirit of America had been providing support for years, ranging from COVID-19 protective gear to upgrades for the American Space facilities that are used for public diplomacy and other outreach to local community members. When I told Spirit of America Regional Director Zack Bazzi about the imminent closure of the refugee school and the plight of the Afghan community in the town of Vahdat, he responded within an hour, offering to provide emergency funding to cover the school’s rent for the year. While U.S. government funding might have taken months, Spirit of America sent the school the funds it needed within days, saving it from closure and keeping kids in classrooms. In Vahdat, Spirit of America funded renovations, equipment, and even American Space programming to transform the Afghan community center into a vibrant, welcoming educational hub helping refugee students of all ages. Building on this success, Spirit of America launched the Afghan Future Campaign to create opportunity for thousands of young people across Central Asia and the Middle East. Spirit of America’s model of agile, innovative support inspired me as a way I could continue supporting the mission of the Foreign Service outside of government. In January 2023, I became an official member of the Spirit of America team, helping embassies and deployed
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