There are nine national resettlement agencies and additional local ones. You can search for resettlement agencies in your area here.
A Welcome Team consists of four to six people who register with a local refugee resettlement agency to help a new family for three months. Preparation for families begins before they arrive. A house or apartment needs to be located and outfitted with some basic household and food items. The team picks the family up at the airport and assists with settling in, learning English, finding a job, etc. The first month is more intensive with filling out forms and assisting with appointments to the doctor, dentist, Social Security, etc. (On these days, it is good to have at least one or two team members available to drive to appointments). Other team members can visit the family in the evenings. Training/orientation for Welcome Teams is available through your local resettlement office. Welcoming new families is a huge undertaking, but a wonderful opportunity to share and shine the love of Jesus into their lives.
Afghanis is the name of their currency.
These refugees have been through a lot and many are traumatized. We can pray with them for healing and God’s touch upon their lives in Jesus's name. Pray for a miracle and expect a miracle!
If necessary, you can use Google translate to help you communicate with those who don't speak English.
Most of these new refugees will come with nothing. Communicate within your welcome team and with your resettlement agency about specific gifts. Gifts in kind, such as bed sheets, towels, or a kitchen setup package, would be more practical than cash (since they will not know where to go or how to find things in the huge stores that we have here).
Do you have an extra room, a furnished basement, or an in-law apartment? Would you be willing to take in a family for a couple of months, until they can find housing elsewhere?
Afghans are very social people and thrive in community. They will be very lonely if left in an apartment or house and simply “given space.” Visit them, share meals, teach them to play UNO or other games (which are fun and can help them to learn English basics, such as colors and numbers).
You don't need a master's degree in English to help your new neighbors. Get them a picture dictionary and help them to start building a vocabulary. Share about culture in the US. Some refugees have served as translators while others come from villages, so each family and individual will be at a different level in language ability. Offer lots of encouragement and laugh.
If you have a question about serving Afghan refugees, feel free to write us! One of our teammates, who has experience working with Afghans, will get back to you as soon as we can.
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