Zahra shared that she previously worked as a news anchor in Afghanistan for ten years, but as a woman in a public-facing role, her job came with challenges including criticism from her own family. In August 2021, after the change in government, Zahra was forced to make the difficult decision to leave her mother behind in Afghanistan and flee to the UK with her children.
Arriving in the UK was challenging for Zahra and her children, as uncertainty about visas and the family's living situation meant they were unable to settle into their new life straight away. They spent six months in a hotel before moving into their own home. But despite the challenges of starting life again in a new culture, it was the support of their new community members that helped Zahra and her family settle in the UK. It’s the small acts of kindness that Zahra remembers from when the family first arrived at their new home. She particularly remembers her neighbor reaching out to ask if it was okay for them to have a birthday party next door, afraid the noise might be a disturbance. “That felt very nice to me because they didn't think, ‘Oh, she's a refugee. We’re not going to ask for her permission,’” explains Zahra.
Click through to learn more about some of the ways you could support people like Zahra in your community.
I could support her at work.
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I could support her at work.
I could help Zahra feel welcome at work by introducing her to other women leaders, and if there are employee resource groups, I’d let her know about them. I could share my appreciation for her remarkable career in Afghanistan and welcome her unique perspectives, actively inviting her to meetings and encouraging her to share her point of view.
I could support Zahra’s family as they transition to life in the UK by sharing community resources. I could invite her to online community resource groups as well as neighborhood gatherings with other working mothers, like tutoring circles and book clubs. I could share what I know about navigating the school system in the UK so she and her children are set up for success.
Ways you can support the people served by the IRC today
Refugees are parents, business owners, activists, and so much more. They enrich our communities and cultures around the world. Let’s show our new neighbors they are welcome in our communities.
There are countless, everyday ways we can support refugees to recover and thrive. The ideas proposed in this activity are just a handful of possibilities.
Have other ideas for ways to support refugees in your community? Share them with us!
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