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A mom of 11 has revealed how she rescued ten women on Afghanistan’s robotics staff after experiences of a Taliban takeover prompted fears over their security.
Allyson Reneau, 60, from Oklahoma, was on the board of administrators for Discover Mars when the group flew the Afghan Women Robotic Staff to its annual People to Mars Convention in 2019.
Reneau, who graduated from Harvard in 2016 with a grasp’s diploma in worldwide relations and U.S. house coverage, instructed Today that she ‘instantly linked’ with the group of ladies – who’re ages 16 to 18 – and has saved contact with them through the years.
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Hero: Allyson Reneau, 60, from Oklahoma, rescued 10 women from Afghan Women Robotic Staff after listening to experiences of a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
Bond: Reneau met the group of ladies, who’re ages 16 to 18, at Discover Mars’ annual People to Mars Convention in 2019 and has stayed in contact with them through the years
On the night time of August 3, she discovered herself unable to sleep in her Oklahoma Metropolis after studying about what was taking place on the opposite facet of the world.
‘I didn’t know the place to begin however I couldn’t shake it. I stated to myself “What do I’ve in my hand? The place can I begin?” I felt a bit of helpless,’ she instructed In the present day.
Reneau made use of her intensive community and referred to as Senator Jim Inhofe ‘as a result of he’s the rating member of the Armed Companies Committee’.
The senator put her in contact with the navy liaison for the Senate, nevertheless it was instantly obvious that he was ‘overwhelmed with the necessity to assist our Americans’.
When ‘that lead went chilly,’ Reneau debated flying to Qatar herself.
Pulling strings: After studying that the Taliban was seizing energy in Afghanistan, Reneau reached out to an outdated roommate who works on the US Embassy in Qatar
Devoted: Reneau, who has 11 kids of her personal (pictured), labored tirelessly for 2 weeks to assist fly the ladies to a safe location the place they may be capable of pursue the next schooling
‘I made a decision that Monday, I’m simply going to fly to Qatar – like a leap of religion – and see what I can do,’ she instructed In the present day. ‘Typically motion simply opens doorways, [but] I used to be going alone, and I’m considering, “Do I even know anybody in Qatar?”‘
Reneau then remembered her former roommate in Washington, D.C. labored within the U.S. Embassy in Qatar. She made a ‘Hail Mary’ name to her buddy earlier than boarding a flight, hoping she may assist.
Her former roommate wrote up a request and spent all night time on the embassy getting ready the required paperwork. In the meantime, Reneau bought the entire women’ passports collectively.
They confronted a variety of obstacles, together with the unrest in Kabul.
Reneau would work with the embassy at night time after working all day lengthy, which she admitted was ‘exhausting.’
Celebration: Reneau has 9 daughters of her personal, and she or he was stuffed with emotion when she realized the ladies had been protected
Devoted: The Harvard graduate is now engaged on rescuing 25 extra women and their mentors from Afghanistan. The Afghan Women Robotics Staff is pictured in Washington, D.C. in 2017
‘It’s [a] very slender window of alternative,’ she stated of rescuing the ladies. ‘I knew that if I did not run by that door now – it’s now or by no means. Typically you solely get one likelihood.’
After two weeks of labor with the US Embassy in Qatar and a canceled flight, the ten women had been efficiently ‘on the US navy facet [of the airport]’ the place they had been shielded from the Taliban.
‘All of the emotion, two weeks of labor for them, it hit me ,’ stated Reneau, who was hesitant to rejoice till she bought a textual content saying the ladies had been airborne.
In the present day reported that the ladies had been flown to a safe location the place they are going to be in a position protected to pursue the next schooling.
Reneau and a staff within the Center East are nonetheless working to assist 25 extra women from the robotics staff and their mentors depart Afghanistan.
Spectacular: Reneau (pictured with physicist and Harvard professor Avi Loeb) first made headlines in 2011 when she enrolled in Harvard College at age 50 to get her grasp’s diploma
Spectacular: Reneau’s Harvard thesis on america House Coverage has gained awards and has been repeatedly revealed. She is pictured with Supreme Courtroom Justice Clarence Thomas
This isn’t the primary impediment Reneau has overcome in her life.
She has finished all of it – together with proudly owning a gymnastics studio and graduating from NASA’s Worldwide House College.
Reneau first made headlines in 2011 when she returned to school 30 years after she dropped out to boost her 11 kids.
She enrolled in Harvard College at 50 years outdated and commuted over 3,000 miles per week for 3 years to get her grasp’s diploma in worldwide enterprise relations.
Earlier than graduating in Could 2016, she studied piano efficiency at Julliard, the well-known personal performing arts conservatory in New York Metropolis.
Reneau’s Harvard thesis on america House Coverage has gained awards and has been repeatedly revealed. She was nominated because the 2019 Harvard Rising Chief of the 12 months.
