by Catherine Ribnick
As mentioned in the Summer Davis Center newsletter, Temple Sinai has joined the New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance, an impressive organization of approximately 25 faith communities, whose goal is “to support the local immigrant community [in MoCo and PG County] in all areas necessary for them to have a healthy and productive life in Maryland.” The Alliance receives requests for assistance from the International Rescue Committee, Ethiopian Community Development Council, HIAS, the Vincentian Friends on the Periphery (undocumented), Little Friends for Peace and others. It works with our friends at Solutions for Hometown Connections.
The Alliance supports newly resettled immigrants, including refugees, asylum seekers and others in a variety of ways, including assistance in applying for government programs, job searches, transportation to doctors’ visits, providing clothing and food, and supplying housing and financial support.
Through the NNIA, Temple Sinai has assumed responsibility for assisting a young, professional Afghan couple, Fatima Mohammadi and Assadullah Khudadadi, who arrived here about three months ago. They spent 15 difficult months in Pakistan, where they were not allowed to work, and had to liquidate all of their personal resources, even their wedding rings. Lutheran Social Services has helped the couple to secure an apartment in Silver Spring, Medicaid and food stamps.
Assadullah has an MS and a BS in Physics, has taught for several years in the Faculty of Engineering at Avicenna University in Kabul; Fatima has a BS in Environmental Engineering from the same university and has worked for the Ministry of Urban Development and Land in Kabul. Their resumes are very impressive. Ideally, employment in their fields of professional experience would be desirable, but they are anxious to gain expertise in IT, as possibly offering greater opportunities. And, of course, they need to secure some kind of employment as soon as possible to cover their expenses.
The couple is here on Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), for which they were eligible because Assadullah worked for a US Army Corps of Engineers contractor in Afghanistan. As such, they have Social Security numbers and are authorized to work here. Fatima’s English is excellent; Assadullah’s needs a little work, but his comprehension is good.
Assadullah and Fatima are a charming, enthusiastic couple, and we are excited to help them on the road to making a new home in this country.
If you can help Assadullah and Fatima with job leads, industry contacts, or advice on how to strategize working in IT, please contact Catherine Ribnick. We are also collecting Giant or Target gift cards for the couple; please bring gift cards to the temple, attention Jenny Cohen.