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Zameer Safi and his household fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over final August, they usually’ve been dwelling in Portland for the final 9 months.”I make for U.S. Military huge, huge initiatives,” he mentioned, utilizing a few of the English he has discovered since immigrating to the U.S., however in our interview Friday, we used a Dari translator so he might converse extra comfortably in his native language.Safi is considered one of 115 new Afghan arrivals settled by Catholic Charities Maine, contracted by the State Division’s Afghan Placement and Help Program to steer the service effort within the state.Along with offering providers, CCM initially positioned the household in a resort for 2 months, then paid $1,000 a month towards their house for the following six months.Safi mentioned, “My huge problem proper now could be housing. The lease may be very costly.”In Afghanistan, he owned a building firm with 25 staff, however right here he works 20 hours per week taking orders at a McDonald’s drive-thru to assist his spouse and their 4 kids, 6-months to 9-years previous.The household departed Afghanistan after spending two days on the chaotic airport within the capital of Kabul. They left aboard a U.S. army cargo aircraft for Kuwait, then traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier than touchdown at Camp Atterbury Military Base, in Indiana.Two months later, they made it to Maine. Safi’s aunt, a U.S. citizen, lives in Westbrook.Safi mentioned, “I’m not excellent with the chilly, however the cause I like Maine is as a result of it’s smaller, not too crowded, higher schooling system for teenagers.”Safi spent the primary 10 years of his life, together with six siblings, underneath repressive Taliban rule.He mentioned, “It was not a cheerful life. Not a very good schooling system.”After 9/11 and the U.S. invasion to topple the Taliban for giving secure harbor to the terrorist assault perpetrators, al Qaeda, Safi mentioned his household quickly left Kabul for his dad or mum’s residence village three hours away.“Kabul was getting bombarded by the U.S. Military,” he mentioned. “The large factor was we have been very scared.”Safi mentioned his subsequent work on U.S. and Afghan authorities initiatives put him at risk when the Taliban returned to energy, prompting his escape. He mentioned, “So, I am joyful. I am relieved, and the nice factor is that not less than there is no warfare and no explosion. Over there, each morning while you get up, you get up with explosion.”Now 31, he hopes to be granted lawful everlasting resident standing – a inexperienced card.“If we might get everlasting residence that may be a terrific assist. I’m careworn about that, however in any other case, we’re joyful,” Safi mentioned, “I’ve a giant dream, that I would prefer to have my very own firm, my very own contractor firm.”Maine Immigrant and Refugee Providers has settled 102 Afghan arrivals and is helping some with functions for political asylum. The Jewish Neighborhood Alliance of Southern Maine has settled two dozen new arrivals.The full, round 240, has been flat since March, indicating an anticipated second wave of arrivals has not materialized in Maine.The U.S. welcomed round 50,000 Afghans within the U.S. final yr underneath humanitarian parole.
Zameer Safi and his household fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over final August, they usually’ve been dwelling in Portland for the final 9 months.
“I make for U.S. Military huge, huge initiatives,” he mentioned, utilizing a few of the English he has discovered since immigrating to the U.S., however in our interview Friday, we used a Dari translator so he might converse extra comfortably in his native language.
Safi is considered one of 115 new Afghan arrivals settled by Catholic Charities Maine, contracted by the State Division’s Afghan Placement and Help Program to steer the service effort within the state.
Along with offering providers, CCM initially positioned the household in a resort for 2 months, then paid $1,000 a month towards their house for the following six months.
Safi mentioned, “My huge problem proper now could be housing. The lease may be very costly.”
In Afghanistan, he owned a building firm with 25 staff, however right here he works 20 hours per week taking orders at a McDonald’s drive-thru to assist his spouse and their 4 kids, 6-months to 9-years previous.
The household departed Afghanistan after spending two days on the chaotic airport within the capital of Kabul.
They left aboard a U.S. army cargo aircraft for Kuwait, then traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier than touchdown at Camp Atterbury Military Base, in Indiana.
Two months later, they made it to Maine. Safi’s aunt, a U.S. citizen, lives in Westbrook.
Safi mentioned, “I’m not excellent with the chilly, however the cause I like Maine is as a result of it’s smaller, not too crowded, higher schooling system for teenagers.”
Safi spent the primary 10 years of his life, together with six siblings, underneath repressive Taliban rule.
He mentioned, “It was not a cheerful life. Not a very good schooling system.”
After 9/11 and the U.S. invasion to topple the Taliban for giving secure harbor to the terrorist assault perpetrators, al Qaeda, Safi mentioned his household quickly left Kabul for his dad or mum’s residence village three hours away.
“Kabul was getting bombarded by the U.S. Military,” he mentioned. “The large factor was we have been very scared.”
Safi mentioned his subsequent work on U.S. and Afghan authorities initiatives put him at risk when the Taliban returned to energy, prompting his escape.
He mentioned, “So, I am joyful. I am relieved, and the nice factor is that not less than there is no warfare and no explosion. Over there, each morning while you get up, you get up with explosion.”
Now 31, he hopes to be granted lawful everlasting resident standing – a inexperienced card.
“If we might get everlasting residence that may be a terrific assist. I’m careworn about that, however in any other case, we’re joyful,” Safi mentioned, “I’ve a giant dream, that I would prefer to have my very own firm, my very own contractor firm.”
Maine Immigrant and Refugee Providers has settled 102 Afghan arrivals and is helping some with functions for political asylum.
The Jewish Neighborhood Alliance of Southern Maine has settled two dozen new arrivals.
The full, round 240, has been flat since March, indicating an anticipated second wave of arrivals has not materialized in Maine.
The U.S. welcomed round 50,000 Afghans within the U.S. final yr underneath humanitarian parole.
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