Announcement
The IRC in NY is proud to work with Special Immigrant Visa holders to achieve their educational and career goals in New York. The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) is an immigration program championed by Senator John McCain to serve families from Afghanistan and Iraq who have assisted U.S. forces in their home countries. These families face dangers in their home countries for working with the United States, and therefore have the same needs as refugee families. Following vetting by the State Department, SIVs have access to all of the services available to arriving refugee families.
Tamana is an SIV holder from Afghanistan who is currently enrolled in the IRC in NY’s Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Resilience (POWER) program’s childcare track to gain entry into the childcare and youth education employment sector. POWER is held in partnership with the Kate Spade Foundation. Tamana also works with the IRC’s College and Career Readiness program in the Family Education Department to assess and develop from her previous educational and work experience how best to navigate a new career here in New York City.
Tamana and Ashley at Hunter Graduate School of Education, where Tamana plans to continue the process of rebuilding her career.
Photo: IRC.
Four years ago, in Afghanistan, Tamana had her own office and respect as chair of the Computer Science Department at the prestigious Tajwar Sultana High School. Now in New York City, she would need a M.A. degree, meaning three years of study and a sizable investment, both in finances and in time, in order to teach Math and Science to American children.
She is undeterred. Tamana plans to start at Hunter College School of Education in fall of 2020, when her youngest child starts pre-school. In order to fine tune her academic English, Tamana has been taking high school equivalency (GED) preparation courses free of charge through the Office of Academic and Continuing Education within the New York City Department of Education. She is also enrolled in the POWER childcare and teacher’s assistant training course with Maria Sigalas at the IRC in NY, while her husband adjusts his Uber driving schedule to attend to childcare for their three children.
Tamana has two critical supports in Cecelia Beirne, Volunteer College and Career Readiness Advisor at the IRC in NY office, and Ashley Rolon-Marlowe, Senior Advisor at Hunter College Graduate School of Education. This team has started the process of applying to one of the best education schools in the country, undaunted by the requirements that may discourage or intimidate refugee applicants.
Official documents from foreign universities are often hard for refugees to obtain once they are resettled in the U.S. This can lead to frustrations in career advancement, which is closely tied to economic stability and financial security, not to mention the essential pride and sense of self-worth that comes from a meaningful career. Tamana had received certificates of commendation for her math teaching skills in Afghanistan and regularly took in-service workshops to strengthen her math and science teaching and training. Tamana is clearly a driven and talented individual, who has met the challenge of transferring her credentials with fierce determination.
Perhaps most importantly, Tamana has assumed the responsibility for her professional journey toward contributing to the math education of American students. She has mapped out her short- and long-term goals, never complaining, putting one foot in front of the other as she moves steadily towards her objective. She inspires her team of supporters and all of us here at the IRC in NY.
Other IRC in NY clients could benefit from a team approach to begin the journey of rebuilding professional careers in New York City. The IRC in NY has supported clients who were doctors, engineers, dentists, lawyers, judges, architects, and teachers in their home countries. If you are interested in supporting clients through networking or professional engagement opportunities in specific fields, please contact Manar Marouf, Family Education Coordinator, at [email protected].
To support clients like Tamana and the essential programs she is participating in at the IRC in NY, please click here.
