The Mentor Team has reached the end of our six-month commitment to the Housing Outreach Mentorship Education (HOME) program through the IRC (International Rescue Committee). We are so proud of the perseverance and resilience of our sponsored Afghan family.
Both father and eldest son are employed full time at the Omni Hotel. They are also looking for better jobs. The son was in his last semester of college in Computer Science when they left Kabul. He is currently exploring, with the help of UUCVille members, how best to obtain further IT credentials to pursue a career in cybersecurity. His father worked for U.S. State Dept as an officer in the Afghan military for 19 years and is looking for a position where he could potentially use his skills as a forklift operator or in security to obtain a better paying job. The father has made great progress with his English lessons and is advancing to the next level of instruction.
The mother continues her English lessons with the mentors. The younger son recently had dental Surgery. They are pleased that his new physician has been able to better treat his ongoing, serious health conditions. The family, especially his mother, have been preoccupied with his well-being and recovery. He is now starting school at Albemarle High which could help mitigate the social isolation he has experienced since arriving to the US where he has been mostly confined to his home with the exception of doctors’ visits.
Their greatest concern continues to be for the safety and well-being of their sons, daughter and grandchildren struggling in Afghanistan. Their hope is to have their family reunited in Virginia. Since our family entered the U.S. under a status known as humanitarian parole, there is no established path to citizenship for them. This is an ongoing concern for all of us.
Last month we began seeking signatures for a petition to fast-track Afghan parolees on a path to citizenship through passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act. The letters of petition were sent with 80 signatures last week to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Bob Good, and Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Thanks to all who signed. Here is a link to an update on the progress of the bill, which was formally introduced in the House and the Senate August 9. https://immigrationforum.org/article/bill-summary-the-afghan-adjustment-act/
We will continue to offer support to our sponsored family such as bringing them a fan when their air conditioning was broken, offering job related advice, and helping with English lessons. In June, several church members helped them move to their new apartment at SPARK Charlottesville when their lease expired. They are planning a special dinner in their new home to express their appreciation to the mentors.
The mentors deeply appreciate having the opportunity to work together to assist this family. We have learned a lot about ourselves and each other in the process. It has been a profound experience for all of us. We and the family appreciate the support of everyone at UUCVille. Through your financial support, donations of household items and a used car, assistance with two moves and other acts of loving kindness, our sponsored family has felt welcomed into this community and made great strides in adjusting to their new lives here.