Afghan refugees face big challenges; volunteers help them adjust to life in the U.S.

Volunteers help children with art projects at the Homework Club.

Newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan often have to build a new life starting from scratch. “We left everything behind,” says N, who fled Kabul with his
family last month as the Taliban took over the country. [We’re using initials rather
than names to protect refugees’ identities.]

N and his family were among several refugees at the Homework
Club Sept. 11 at Peace Lutheran Church in Lincolnia, where they met other Afghanis who’s
been in the U.S. longer, learned about resources available to newcomers, and collected
donated goods.

The Homework Club was created by four local churches with
the goal of helping Afghan children with their schoolwork and teaching English literacy
to their parents.

N lauds the Homework Club for “helping families integrate
into the community.”

He brought his family to the U.S. on a commercial flight last month,
paying $7,000 for tickets for his wife and six children, ages 3 to 12, but they couldn’t bring much with them.  

Homework Club teachers provide information on community resources.

They brought a few blankets and clothes for the kids “because
we didn’t know if we would have a warm place to sleep,” he says. His wife also
brought two handmade carpets she was particularly fond of.

Finding an apartment was a big challenge, but luckily a
friend who lived at the Skyline was able to get him a two-bedroom unit there, and various organizations donated furniture and basic household
items.  

In Afghanistan, N managed multimillion-dollar projects for
the Americans. One of his top priorities here is finding a job, and that meant
getting Internet access and a cell phone.   

Another priority is enrolling his wife in English
lessons. His oldest son speaks English, but the other children are learning the
language at Mason District public schools.

N appreciates the opportunity to live at Skyline where there
is an established community of Afghan immigrants. “People are coming to areas
where they have some connections,” he says. “It decreases the level of stress
and anxiety.”

Related story: Local churches stepping up aid for Afghan refugees

K, who left Afghanistan with his family three years ago and
settled in Chantilly, came to the Homework Club to find English classes for his
wife. His son and daughter worked on art projects with the volunteers, while he
learned about local organizations that are assisting refugees.   

He had been working for a construction company with a U.S.
Army contract when he decided they had to leave immediately after receiving a chilling
phone call. The caller, presumably with the Taliban, said, “do not work for the
Americans. If we find you, we will kill you.” 

What K misses most about life in Afghanistan are the
frequent big family gatherings. “Here, we are alone,” he says.

Z, who left Afghanistan several years ago with his wife and son, offers
a lifeline to the new refugees. At that time he no longer felt safe working for
the Americans, and it was much easier getting out.

He settled at the Skyline and has helped newcomers find
apartments there. He teachers English at the Homework Club and connects
refugees with mentors who help them adjust to U.S. culture.

Aside from the hurried exodus when people had to leave
without being able to take much money or personal belongings, Z says the
biggest challenge for the newcomers is “cultural shock.” As an example, he
suggested a newly arrived Afghani who wanted a chocolate bar go to a pharmacy.
“But I’m not sick,” the man responded.

With all those challenges, Z says, the refugees appreciate
the support they’re getting from the Americans. “The volunteers don’t care
about politics,” he says. “They care about humanity.”