Make donations through UUCF’s Afghan Resettlement and Immigrant Support Fund or at the table in the Commons on Sunday, May 11. Questions? Email Marcia Tugendhat.
Read more about the families here.
UUCF members helped resettle two families in 2022-23. They have experienced a variety of successes and daunting challenges. While they have obtained asylum, this provides them very little safety and stability in the current situation. They need our support again now. The R family has requested financial assistance for Green Card applications ($1,440 for each of four family members) and the S family has requested financial assistance for permanent residency for three of the seven family members (for an estimate of $3,480). Any funds donated will help these families establish a safer status.
About the Families
The R family arrived in Northern Virginia under the Humanitarian Parole program for Afghan allies after spending several months in a camp in the United Arab Emirates following the fall of Kabul. Mr. R had served as a helicopter pilot in the Afghan Air Force, supporting US forces against the Taliban. They applied for and received asylum.
Resettling the R family was a true team effort. Household goods and furniture, cleaning supplies, dishes, toys, beautiful original artwork by congregant artists and more were generously contributed as were funds for utility bills and rental assistance.
Mr. R, who had never used a computer before, was selected for a paid training program to do intro-level work maintaining hardware for a tech company. His work ethic was such that he was hired at the conclusion of the training and has been promoted three times.
Mrs. R could count to 10 and say hello and goodbye in English when they arrived in the spring of 2022. With her participation in UUCF’s ESOL class and individual instruction, by the time her youngest was eligible for Head Start, she applied for and was hired as a School Monitor at Dogwood Elementary School. Her positivity and special calling to work with special needs students encouraged the school to promote her to the position of site-based sub. Mrs. R has learned to drive and obtained a license.
The R children, now a rising 1st grader and rising 3rd grader, play together in English. The 9-year-old is obsessed with history and geography and loves to share his knowledge. The 6-year-old is a cautious child, probably left over from the trauma the family experienced, but connects to the people around him with enthusiasm and tenacity and has great curiosity about the world.
The R family has paid forward the help they have received by helping cousins and a sibling and her family to resettle.
The R family needs our help once again. They are eligible to apply for Permanent Resident Status and recognize the importance, in this political climate, of moving forward quickly. Each of the four applications requires a $1440 fee. Because of Mr. R’s previous career, deportation would likely be extremely dangerous. Not only do we want to keep him and his family safe, but we are also thrilled to have them be a part of our community. Please contribute to the fund as you are able.
The S family has experienced significant struggles since coming to the US. Because of some special sensitivities, the Resettlement Team is not able to publicly share information about the S family, but they too need financial assistance to apply for permanent residency.