Dozens of Afghan refugees across the Green Mountains are back to square one after some key programs that helped them thrive in their new communities were cut short on the federal level.”I help with driving, with immigration, interpretation and translation. It’s a lot of phone calls,” said Hamed with the Vermont Afghan Alliance.Originally from Afghanistan, Hamed has spent the last year in Burlington, teaching Afghan refugees how to drive in the United States. He works with the Afghan Alliance to find new homes for hundreds of Afghans who have helped the U.S. overseas, often separated from their loved ones.”Vermont is now home to the largest population of Afghans in the country per capita,” said Executive Director Molly Gray.With a new administration in the White House, refugee federal funding is frozen, meaning they had to pull the plug on some of the services they offer, including their driving program.The move is blindsiding organizers of the Alliance and Afghan families waiting for their loved ones to join them in Vermont.”For this suspension of reunification, suspension of the refugee program, we don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Gray. “Will they ever be reunited with their wives and kids?”Afghans in the middle of their driving lessons, now left wondering how they will get from point A to point B, including Colchester resident Nafisa.”There’s a lot of stress on me and everybody else who is living here,” she said.Just a few years into her new life in Vermont, she is now wondering what is next for her and her daughter and shares her concerns about their future with family still living in Afghanistan.”If I have go shopping, I don’t have a license, so I cannot,” said Nafisa. “If there was an emergency, like something happened to my daughter, I cannot drive because I don’t have a driver’s license”.The Afghan Alliance says you can help them get back on track by donating to their mission and raising awareness.”The most important thing is that we, as Vermonters, say we will stand with you. We are keeping our promise, we’re going to continue to support you here in Vermont” said Gray.The Afghan Alliance says you can learn more about the programs and make donations on their website.
Dozens of Afghan refugees across the Green Mountains are back to square one after some key programs that helped them thrive in their new communities were cut short on the federal level.
“I help with driving, with immigration, interpretation and translation. It’s a lot of phone calls,” said Hamed with the Vermont Afghan Alliance.
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Originally from Afghanistan, Hamed has spent the last year in Burlington, teaching Afghan refugees how to drive in the United States. He works with the Afghan Alliance to find new homes for hundreds of Afghans who have helped the U.S. overseas, often separated from their loved ones.
“Vermont is now home to the largest population of Afghans in the country per capita,” said Executive Director Molly Gray.
With a new administration in the White House, refugee federal funding is frozen, meaning they had to pull the plug on some of the services they offer, including their driving program.
The move is blindsiding organizers of the Alliance and Afghan families waiting for their loved ones to join them in Vermont.
“For this suspension of reunification, suspension of the refugee program, we don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Gray. “Will they ever be reunited with their wives and kids?”
Afghans in the middle of their driving lessons, now left wondering how they will get from point A to point B, including Colchester resident Nafisa.
“There’s a lot of stress on me and everybody else who is living here,” she said.
Just a few years into her new life in Vermont, she is now wondering what is next for her and her daughter and shares her concerns about their future with family still living in Afghanistan.
“If I have go shopping, I don’t have a license, so I cannot,” said Nafisa. “If there was an emergency, like something happened to my daughter, I cannot drive because I don’t have a driver’s license”.
The Afghan Alliance says you can help them get back on track by donating to their mission and raising awareness.
“The most important thing is that we, as Vermonters, say we will stand with you. We are keeping our promise, we’re going to continue to support you here in Vermont” said Gray.
The Afghan Alliance says you can learn more about the programs and make donations on their website.
