Shamim Jawad is the founder and president of the Ayenda Foundation, the Afghan Children Initiative, which works for the welfare, education, health, shelter and safety of Afghan children. She is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, an organization established in 2002 by Presidents Karzai and Bush to advance the rights of women in Afghanistan. She serves on the board of trustees of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in Afghanistan, offering internationally supported degree programs and education. In addition, Mrs. Jawad is a member of the International Women's Forum (IWF).