Commonwealth Catholic Charities reinforces compassion in resettling refugees
Abdul and his family were packed and ready to go. For two years, they had waited to be granted refugee status, and would finally be on a U.S.-bound plane, leaving their old life in Afghanistan behind. But three days before their August 2021 flight was scheduled to depart, Kabul fell once again to the Taliban. For now, the family wasn’t going anywhere.
The asylum application process can take years. Eight different international agencies conduct thorough background, medical, and security checks. There are interviews by multiple people who analyze every facet of an applicant’s life. Only 1% of applicants pass these rigorous tests and are granted asylum.
Abdul had worked for years helping the United States train Afghan provincial governments and civilians through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Initiative to Strengthen Local Administrations (ISLA) program. According to the program’s archived website, it sought to “improve provincial governance in the areas of fiscal and development planning, representation of citizens, and enhanced delivery of public services.”
Abdul’s work on behalf of the U.S. was supposed to help expedite the visa process, but thanks to COVID, the Taliban, and other issues, it would be four years before Abdul made it out of Afghanistan.
Once the Taliban took over the country again, Abdul had a target on his back because he had helped the American military. Only his first name is used in this story to protect him and as his family.
Another attempt to get them out in 2022 was thwarted due to security concerns. But in 2023, they finally got out. A flight took them first to Qatar, where they lived in a former military base-turned-refugee camp for several months, and then, finally, to Washington, D.C.
“We always talk about when we were boarding the flight, how everyone was so excited,” recalled Abdul. “We came into Dulles airport and we were then taken to a hotel and none of us can forget that first morning we woke in the U.S. The weather was clear and cool and very blue. We took pictures of the sky that we often look at.”
Catholic faith in action
A case worker from Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) met them at their hotel, brought them Afghan food, and took them to get sim cards for their phones.
Over the next few months, their case worker helped the family settle into the country – shuttling them to various appointments, helping register the children for school, and helping the family navigate the American health care system. Soon, the family found housing, Abdul found a job, and the children were in school again.
“Without CCC’s support, I cannot even imagine what it would have been like to come here,” said Abdul. “Those initial few weeks are very crucial because everything is so different. Everything is a major culture shock. I don’t know how we would have gotten through without them.”
CCC first started offering refugee resettlement services in 2010, and has helped more than 1,000 refugees this fiscal year alone. It works in partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the largest refugee resettlement agency in the world.
Sixty CCC employees work out of offices in Newport News, Richmond, and Roanoke. The program is largely funded by the U.S. State Department, foundation support, and corporate and individual donors. Refugees come from all over the world, including the Middle East, Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
Prior to working with CCC, Refugee and Immigration Services director Kristen Larcher spent time volunteering with Syrians in refugee camps. She saw firsthand what refugees experience after fleeing their homeland, and decided to continue her work stateside, helping refugees build a new life once they leave the camps. She sees her work as a direct reflection of her Catholic faith.
“Just last month, Pope Francis said that turning migrants away from the prospect of peace and security in a new country is ‘a grave sin,’” Larcher noted. “Catholic social teaching tells us that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Each person has inherent dignity, worth, and a moral claim to the hospitality of others.”
Cultural orientation
Larcher explained that CCC is not involved with the years-long application and vetting process of the refugees they assist. It’s only after someone is granted asylum that CCC steps in and works to make sure their transition is as smooth as possible.
Larcher said that the first 90 days after a refugee arrives are critical, as there are several services that must legally be completed within designated time frames, such as registering for school.
CCC case workers help new arrivals with everything, from grocery and clothes shopping, to showing them how to ride a bus. This is all part of what CCC calls “cultural orientation.” CCC also offers counseling, career training, and legal services.
CCC also emphasizes the importance of empowering female refugees, since many come from countries where women are not given a voice. CCC offers specialized job training to women who are entering the workforce for the first time, driving lessons, digital literacy classes, and childcare assistance.
One of the hardest, and most essential, services to provide is housing. While refugees receive per capita assistance in the beginning, it often isn’t enough to cover all of a family’s bills due to soaring rent prices and inflation. This is why CCC says it is vital to teach refugees the skills and provide the resources they need to gain meaningful employment.
“Refugees are humans. They all want the same things for themselves and their families, that is, safety and a stable future for their children,” said Larcher.
CCC says 97% of its refugee clients are employed and financially self-sufficient within 90 days of arrival. Larcher credits this to the strong community ties CCC has formed with its partners. Community outreach events include landlords who are open to housing refugees, businesses that value diversity, and teachers experienced in working with non-native English speakers.
“Catholic social teaching reminds humans of our missions and values. Even for non-believers, the teachings still apply,” Larcher said, “especially the teaching of solidarity; we are one human family whatever our national, racial ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.”
Abdul and his family have been in America for one year and Abdul’s wife is now pregnant with their fifth child. They are still sometimes homesick for the community they left behind – but they are carving out their own life here.
“The most important thing is that I see a good future for my children here,” Abdul said. “I think if I did not come to the U.S., my children and all of their capacity would have been wasted in Afghanistan. It was a very good decision for us to come here. I look forward to my children growing and achieving their dreams in life.”
To learn more about the Refugee Resettlement program, visit www.cccofva.org/resettlement-services.
To donate, visit https://www.cccofva.org/donatenow.
To learn about community sponsorship, visit https://www.cccofva.org/community-sponsorship.
To learn about furnishing a home, visit https://www.cccofva.org/_files/ugd/f6d472_d726561ef607426c86a988dc0e086a1e.pdf.
To volunteer, visit https://www.cccofva.org/volunteer.