In 1984, Dr. Robert Simon traveled to Afghanistan, where he founded International Medical Corps. Dr. Simon not only provided medical care but also trained local medics, defining a mission that continues today. Since then, International Medical Corps has operated in more than 80 countries and provided more than $4.5 billion in humanitarian services and training.
On October 31, 2024, International Medical Corps’ Afghanistan team hosted a special celebration at its country office in Kabul in honor of our 40th anniversary. The event brought together long-term and new staff members, who shared inspiring stories about their work. This meaningful gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s journey, share personal experiences and strengthen the sense of community among colleagues.
International Medical Corps’ Deputy Country Director, who has been with the organization for 25 years, opened the event with inspiring remarks examining those years of experience: “Afghanistan was the first country where International Medical Corps began its operations and where it continues to play an important role. I was among the first doctors working in this office, and everything back then was very simple and basic—through International Medical Corps’ interventions, we contributed a lot to the country’s health system.”
Following these heartfelt remarks, the Communications team shared a compelling video looking back on International Medical Corps’ history and approach. The video offered attendees a valuable look at our legacy, foundational vision and eventual evolution into one of the largest humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan.
The event then shifted focus to a series of personal reflections from some of the newest Afghanistan team members, including interns. They shared their personal journeys of joining the organization, talked about their initial experiences and discussed how they found International Medical Corps to be an inspiring, helpful and supportive place to grow professionally. The interns expressed their deep appreciation to the Country Director for creating opportunities that enabled them to strengthen their skills, build their knowledge and gain invaluable real-world experience. Their stories reflected their gratitude for the positive learning environment, supportive leadership and opportunities for development that International Medical Corps provides.
The Deputy Coordinator of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team shared his motivation for joining the organization, mentioning that before his decision to join International Medical Corps, he thoroughly researched our mission and impact. His findings—specifically International Medical Corps’ commitment to helping people living in the most remote and hard-to-reach areas of Afghanistan—motivated him to become part of this important work. His reflections highlighted our efforts and how our team continues to inspire others.
The Project Manager of the Drug Addiction Treatment Center (DATC), who began as an Officer and steadily progressed to their current role, shared their inspiring career journey with International Medical Corps: “When I first joined International Medical Corps, I found it to be a supportive and encouraging environment that enabled me to strengthen my skills and abilities. I am deeply grateful to the leadership and all my colleagues for their support.”
The event concluded with a celebration: distributing service awards to recognize the dedication and contributions of staff members who have worked with International Medical Corps in Afghanistan for more than 20 years. These team members were acknowledged for their unwavering dedication to the mission, and presented with distinguished awards signed by senior leadership. This recognition was a meaningful way to celebrate their loyalty, achievements and continued commitment to providing critical humanitarian assistance to those who need it most.
Overall, the celebration was a testament to the enduring spirit of collaboration, service and growth that defines International Medical Corps and its staff worldwide, more than 96% of whom are local to the countries where they work.
To help us continue to support the world’s most vulnerable people affected by conflict, disaster and disease, donate to International Medical Corps today.