The Kite Runner

USA for UNHCR is excited to launch the Culture Collective by featuring The Kite Runner, by award-winning author and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner follows Amir, a young boy from Kabul whose life is upturned when violence takes over Afghanistan.

Welcome Message

Dear Refugee Allies,

I was inspired to write The Kite Runner by the desire to bring a human dimension to the story of my birthplace and to share with the world a more nuanced picture of the country, of its culture and its people. And I wrote it at a time when the eyes of the world were focused on Afghanistan.

In August 2021, the eyes of the world were focused on Afghanistan yet again, this time amidst the dramatic scenes at Kabul airport as people rushed to escape the country. Tragically, this most recent crisis is on top of decades of heartache and displacement experienced by the people of Afghanistan. The story of The Kite Runner and the themes within are just as resonant today as they were when the book was published.

It’s crucial that we stand together with Afghan families, share their stories, and remind them that there is a global community of compassionate individuals who care about their safety and their future. I hope that The Kite Runner inspires you to do just that.

Please read the book or watch the movie, and check out all the ways below that you can get more involved through USA for UNHCR’s Culture Collective.

With gratitude,

Khaled Hosseini

Read The Book

“A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.” Amir is just a boy when his father says these words to him but they follow him long into adulthood as he struggles to find forgiveness for his past. Read Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novel to learn about Afghanistan and Amir’s journey.

Read

Watch The Movie

The Kite Runner was turned into a movie in 2007 and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Watch the movie to learn about Amir and Afghanistan and see how this moving story was adapted for the screen.

Watch