Like many of you, I’m heartsick for the people of Afghanistan–especially the girls and women left vulnerable to the Taliban squashing their rights and lives. It’s easy to feel helpless and hopeless.

Let’s not forget, though, of a formidable force that we can nudge toward aiding Afghans (and other victims of displacement and human rights violations): business. We can, for example:

• Ask our employer to join the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a network of companies committed to integrating refugees in their host communities.
• Get our procurement department to join UNSTUCK, which helps businesses populate supply chains with providers that hire refugees.
• Encourage our employee resource groups (ERG’s) or corporate foundation to support efforts in the developing world through Alight, Global Giving, the International Rescue Committee, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Mercy Corps or the Malala Fund, which are all promoting women’s rights in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere.
• Organize employee volunteering or giving that supports organizations that serve refugees in our communities. In the United States, these nonprofits include Church World Service, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), HIAS, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS), United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and World Relief.

In summary, there are various ways capitalism can reduce suffering in the Afghans and drive social justice. But it’s up to us to push it in that direction.

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