Announcement
Three years ago, women and girls in Afghanistan were plunged even deeper into political and economic crisis when the Taliban took power, facing major restrictions on their basic human rights, including the right to be educated and to work. Today, they are working tirelessly to reclaim and rebuild their lives.
Afghan women meet for the monthly Afghan Women's Group workshop.
Photo: IRC
The IRC in NY has provided critical resettlement services to over 275 Afghan refugees in New York City during the past three years. Recognizing the disproportionate impacts on female-identifying clients, they launched the Afghan Women and Girls program at the end of 2021to help instill confidence and empower them to pursue their economic and educational goals. Learn more about the development of this program here!
Now on its third year, the Afghan women and girls participating in the program have not only made immense strides in achieving their goals, but have found comfort and community in their new home. Keep reading to hear inspiring stories from some of the women and girls who have stayed hopeful in the face of adversity.
Jamila – On the Road to Independence
Jamila arrived in New York in August 2022 and joined the Afghan Women’s group just three months later. From the moment she landed, IRC staff were there to support her, greeting her at the airport and ensuring she had a place to stay and a warm meal on her first night. Facing severe health issues upon arrival, Jamila received crucial support from IRC in accessing medical care and navigating the healthcare system in NYC. She has expressed how grateful she is for the prompt and compassionate care she received.
Jamila (middle) attends an Afghan Women's Group session.
Photo: IRC
Jamila is one of the 14 women participating in this year’s cohort of the Afghan Women’s group. Monthly Saturday group sessions are held at ICNA Relief USA, where the Afghan women receive presentations on a wide range of topics such as “How to get a driver’s license” or “Women’s Health”. Cultural Orientation Specialist Lindsey Cunningham develops curriculum for the workshops based on topics chosen by participants, allowing them to prioritize their own needs.
One of the most beneficial sessions, in Jamila’s opinion, was the Job Readiness workshop. There, she learned how to develop a resume, look for jobs online, and fill out a job application. As she continues her job hunt in New York City, she will use the valuable skills she learned in this session. She also found great value in the public transportation session. Lindsey explains that “at first, she needed me to meet her at the bus stop and navigate to ICNA with her during every workshop, but now she is able to get there on her own.”
Jamila is also one of the 22 Afghan women participating in the IRC in NY English classes. She expressed how happy she was with how classes were going and how helpful they’ve been for her since she moved here. Lindsey has noticed her improvement in the ESOL classes.
“She used to sign her name in Dari on the sign in sheet but now she signs her name in English and usually says, ‘Hello Lindsey. How are you?’ when she walks into the workshop.”
English language proficiency is essential to obtaining most jobs in the United States and Jamila is working tirelessly to reach this goal.
Cultivating a sense of security and community is key to the group. Time for socialization is carved out before and after each presentation, with snacks provided by the IRC in NY. The women participating are encouraged to exchange contact information and advice to each other. Women with children in the group, such as Jamila, are also able to bring their kids to sessions.
Participants fill out a worksheet while enjoying snacks at the Afghan Women's Group!
Photo: IRC
Jamila has found community and friendship both within the group and in her own neighborhood. She explains,
"There are three Afghan women that come to the monthly workshops who I am in contact with. We do not live close to each other, but I call them frequently.”
In her own community, she has connected with other Afghan mothers. She will meet them at the park with her children or go shopping with them. These women have been in the United States longer than Jamila, at least 7 years. They have helped her navigate her neighborhood and given her important advice and tips for living in New York City.
When asked what she was proud of herself for, Jamila points not only to all of the things she has learned, but her ability to learn these skills, as her biggest source of pride. She is also proud of being able to navigate the subway and buses by herself.
Lindsey has seen how confident Jamila has become since the beginning of the group. She reflects,
“I think I have probably seen the most growth in Jamila since I started the Afghan Women's Group. At first, she did not want to take our in-person classes because it was too far away from home, but this past quarter, she is enrolled in our in-person class that meets at IRC three days per week. She even brought her family to the Iftar dinner last spring! These may seem like small things that she's been able to accomplish but I can tell they have had a huge impact on her confidence.”
Jamila is optimistic about her future, stating that her biggest goal is to be independent. She hopes to get her driver’s license soon so she won’t have to rely on public transportation to navigate the city. She shares that this independence is important to her because it will allow her to fully support her children and herself.
Asra and Usra – Sisters Preparing for their Next Chapter
Sisters Asra (14) and Usra (11), like many other girls in Afghanistan, had their educations disrupted when the Taliban took power. Resettling first in Brazil and then in New York less than a year ago, they had to adapt to multiple education systems and find their places as newcomers in each school. Now, they are ready for their next chapter: High School and Middle School in New York City.
Usra performs a dance routine at the 2024 NYSA graduation.
Photo: IRC
In Afghanistan, both girls were at the tops of their classes. Asra and Usra were very involved in school, providing classroom support for younger classes.
They were first introduced to the IRC in NY’s youth programs through their mom, who started attending IRC’s free ESOL classes shortly after arriving to the US. In the spring, they attended Mini-NYSA and were enrolled in Youth ESOL Classes and Youth Tutoring. This summer, they finished their first year of the IRC's Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA).
Asra at the 2024 NYSA graduation.
Photo: IRC
Asra and Usra were very enthusiastic about their time at NYSA, both of them expressing that they hadn’t had a bad day there. Usra exclaims, “NYSA is so cool, I love everything here! We have so many fun things to learn and trips to go on.” She especially enjoyed the field day, where staff and students competed in different outdoor activities. Her sister agrees, adding “It’s a great place to make new friends. I’ve learned so many things here.”
Both sisters are starting new schools next year, Asra entering her freshman year of high school and Usra entering sixth grade. Like most kids, they are nervous about their classes, making friends, and fitting in. They have not had the traditional educational journey; Asra states, “It’s hard because I came here after finishing 6th grade and then I went to the 8th grade and now I’m going to high school.”
Their NYSA experience has helped them feel more prepared to start school this year. Asra states, “At NYSA, we studied geometry and other things that we didn’t study in eighth grade so I feel more prepared for next year. Also, being able to read English, identify the main idea, and practice writing paragraphs will be very helpful for high school.” They also learned about mindfulness and practiced meditation and yoga, skills they will use if they become stressed or anxious in school.
Asra and Usra were both class speakers for the 2024 NYSA graduation. In Asra’s speech, she talked about her “feelings for NYSA.” In it, she explained how staff at NYSA give each student equal amounts of attention, which is something she hadn’t experienced at other schools.
Though they still have quite some time, Asra and Usra spoke about what they would like to be when they grow up. Usra states, “I want to be an astronaut because I love science. I’m obsessed with science.” She is keeping her options open, though, and explains, “I used to want to be a model and then I wanted to be a singer and then a scientist and now I want to be an astronaut.”
Asra wants to be a heart surgeon or neurosurgeon, following in her mother’s footsteps.
“My mom used to be a surgeon in our country, now she is training to be a nurse here. I really want to do it to help people from my country. A lot of people in Afghanistan have heart problems. There are a lot of babies that are born with heart problems. In my family, three or four people have the same problems. I just want to learn so we can help them faster.”
Youth Education Supervisor Ui Jin Chong has worked with Usra and Asra in three of the IRC in NY’s youth programs: Youth Tutoring, Youth ESOL classes, and NYSA. She speaks on the value they bring to all of the programs they participate in, stating,
“They are such an asset to the multicultural community of respect we try to create. They are empathetic, curious, and optimistic and it was great to see them take a lead in helping new students and nurturing connections.”
Asra and Usra are excited for what’s next. They both expressed their desire to return to NYSA next year and eventually become peer mentors, former NYSA students that provide support in the classroom. Though their educational journeys have not been easy, they have shown nothing but courage and enthusiasm every step of the way.
Looking Forward
With the generous support of The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation, the IRC in NY has been able to provide culturally responsive care that takes into account the unique needs of women and girls. Many of the Afghan women participating in the group have now been in the United States for over a year, and their needs have shifted from basic resettlement and cultural adjustment needs to workforce or English language skills. The IRC in NY is excited to continue adapting this program to best meet their clients' needs, including having conversations around some sort of mentorship program, pairing women who have been here longer with newly arrived Afghan women!
How can I support Afghan Women and Girls in New York City?
Make a difference today by donating to support Afghan women and girls, such as Jamila, Asra, and Usra, in achieving their economic and educational goals. Your generosity will provide hope, stability, and a brighter future for those who need it most.