Announcement
The Sayid* family arrived in early fall 2021 to NYC from the base that temporarily housed evacuating families from Afghanistan. The process of resetting and finding comfort through a difficult transition can be emotional and stressful. As a family of five, they were focused on resettling as soon as possible. A new beginning for them meant finding a new apartment, setting up social benefits, and enrolling their two children in school.
New beginning
Photo: IRC in NY
It is important for families to feel safe and familiar. One of the first decisions the Sayid family made was to promptly agree to an apartment offer in a new neighbourhood. For many families, this decision can take weeks, especially in deciding on the commute, the price, and the surrounding neighbourhood.
Now settled, the Sayid family shared with the IRC in NY their goals for this year, which include ensuring their family safety, pursuing economic mobility, and renewing their education journey and learning goals. The IRC in NY is excited to assist their vision and support their feeling of belonging and inclusion in their new community.
Both the mother and father will take English courses to help them gain the language tools to support their family in multiple settings: at their future place of employment, in their community, and their children’s school (especially in advocating for their child’s needs). IRC’s Adult ESOL classes help families improve their vocabulary, practice conversational English, and apply their English in everyday contexts.
New beginning
Photo: IRC in NY
The Sayid family are also ready to prepare for the job market in order to provide for their family. This process can be daunting, especially after having faced numerous transitions from one cultural context to another. In spite of these foreseeable stressors, the Sayid family teamed up with their caseworker to identify a compatible plan that worked best for their immediate needs.
The father is ready to join Job Readiness Training (JRT), a core career development service offered by the Economic Empowerment team. Participants in JRT will have access to individualized career coaching, sector-specific bridge training, and support with obtaining the necessary credentials for job placement. Participants are encouraged to join either an in-person JRT class or self-paced JRT online courses. At JRT, they will prepare for job applications and interviews, and more importantly, learn about their employee rights. Finally, they will have the opportunity to land a role to best take care of their family, while focusing on their long-term wellbeing and stability.
*Name changed to protect their identity