by Catherine Ribnick and Glenn Engelmann
Our Refugee team continues to be very active in supporting the Noori family. Here is the latest update on their ongoing transition to life in America.
Noori is working part-time at Safeway as a stocker. He also recently secured part-time work for Voice of America as a cameraman and video editor. Hopefully, he can find full time professional employment before our sponsorship ends at the beginning of February. Noori has also started an online English language course through Montgomery College, designed to improve his English skills. He is very enthusiastic about the class.
The children have finished the school year and are attending summer school, which lasts for three weeks. Linda Rosen and Catherine Ribnick are brainstorming places to take the kids on a few adventures, such as some of the museums, Brookside Gardens, etc. Any further suggestions are welcome, as well as expressions of interest in accompanying them. Shahla is working with a tutor to improve her English, in the hope that school will be easier for her in the fall.
We have transferred all the living expenses, except for the rent, in to Noori’s name, as part of the goal of moving him towards independence. These expenses are gas, electric, water, phones and the internet. Once we confirm that the Xfinity account is in his name, we will help him apply for the discount available to low-income consumers under the Affordable Connectivity Program. Thanks to Rusty Wilson for administering the transfer of accounts and to Valerie Singer for addressing some issues with the children’s phones.
And (another) special shout out to Linda Rosen, whose tireless efforts on behalf of the children, and the whole family, are not only inspiring but indispensable.
In other (but related) news, we are so pleased that Temple Sinai has been granted an award of $1000 to be used to continue its work in resettling our Afghan neighbors. This grant has been funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Shapiro Foundation and is being administered by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington. The $1000 grant will be put to good use in our continuing efforts to support the Noori family.
As we have requested before, if any of you have any leads on possible employment, please let Catherine Ribnick, Glenn Engelmann or David Wessel know. Helping Noori to find more substantial full time employment is, so to speak, Job One.