The latest New Yorker of the Week took action after reading stories about women who fled war-torn Afghanistan and are now trying to make a new life in the United States. NY1's John Schiumo filed the following report.

Sunita Viswanath was living in India 12 years ago raising her two children when she first became aware of living situations in Afghanistan.

"I was reading in the newspaper and on the internet, usually buried somewhere in the news, these really horrific stories about what was happening to women and men and children in Afghanistan," says Viswanath.

Even after moving to New York in 2000 to work as a women's rights activist, Viswanath continued to be concerned about reports of discrimination against Afghan women.

"I wanted to know what we the women in America were going to do about the women in Afghanistan," says Viswanath.

So eight years ago, Viswanath started Women For Afghan Women, an organization based in Queens that provides free social services, immigration assistance and English classes to women who have fled Afghanistan.

"Learning English is a big necessity and that's one of the greatest things about this organization," says attendee Nasima Nagibzad through translation. "Because as Afghan women who are newcomers, English is very essential to doing daily work, applying for a driver license and going to the market."

Viswanath says many of the women are victims of domestic violence both in Afghanistan and in the United States.

"Domestic violence, women needing very concrete services like [English as a Second Language] classes was something that brought women in and continues to," says Viswanath. "Immigration-related issues forced marriages at an early age. These are the kinds of things that women talk to us about."

The women say the organization provides them with a support system.

"I definitely felt a sense of loneliness when I came to this country because after the war my family has been spread out," says attendee Akleem Chardiwal through translation. "Once I became involved in this organization, I felt a sense of belonging and knowing people who share the same issues as I do."

Viswanath also started a similar organization, Afghan Women For Afghan Women, in three cities in Afghanistan, in the hopes of inspiring women to help each other, just as she inspires them to do here in New York.

"If we can continue to make those connections so that the women here transcends their own issues and connect with their sisters back home, and really see the struggle of all women in the world as one, that will be the ultimate achievement," says Viswanath.

So, for helping women overcome their struggles both here and in Afghanistan, Sunita Viswanath is the latest New Yorker of the Week.

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