Meet LexRAP Client “Robin” from Afghanistan
Robin (not her real name) came to the United States from Afghanistan, where she was an HR associate at a U.S. subcontractor, in August 2021. When the Taliban took over, and it was clear that women would not be permitted to work, she and her sister Alyssa (also not her real name) were quickly evacuated.
“Robin and Alyssa were fortunate that their boss, a businessman, foresaw the future and had both women prepare to leave quickly,” says Pat Moyer, part of Robin’s current host family. “They only had a few hours. Their mother gave her blessing, knowing that staying in Afghanistan might mean a forced wedding with a member of the Taliban.”
“It was a scary night,” Robin recalls. “Bullets were fired at the bus we were traveling in to the airport. By time the Air Force plane we were flying in took off there had been two explosions. Fortunately, when we landed in Germany, we were able to contact our family and tell them we were alright.”
The sisters stayed at a military base in Germany for five days before being relocated to a base in Virginia, where they stayed for two months. Next stop was time with a family friend in Nebraska. But the state was overwhelmed with immigration cases and not in a position to assist. Alyssa had a friend in Massachusetts who promised to help them in any way possible to leave Nebraska and move here. This contact led the women to Ascentria, a resettlement agency and long-term partner of LexRAP.
A Refuge in Uncertainty
The sisters lived with a temporary host family in Lexington for four months before moving in with LexRAP board members Bruce Neumann and Pat Moyer in March 2022 on a long-term basis.
“Bruce and Pat helped us with everything – paperwork, benefits, transportation, medical care,” Robin recalls. “For example, when I was diagnosed with PTSD they arranged for a therapist and art classes, swimming, and yoga therapies. They have been incredibly generous. They hear what I have to say and talk to me about my concerns. In my relationship with them I feel respected and valued. They make me feel like I have a place I can call home.”
Robin also notes that Pat spent hours searching online for stocks she could invest in without violating Islamic guidelines. And that the couple began eating Halal meat, essential for the sisters. “These are just two examples of the many ways Bruce and Pat make us feel comfortable and show their regard for our culture, values and religion,” she notes.
The Journey to Self-Reliance
Robin says she had “no idea” what life in the U.S. would be like. In Afghanistan, women are very family-oriented. Even when she was working, she lived at home and gave the money to her mother. An older sister did all the cooking.
“The idea of living on my own is challenging,” she says. “Buying groceries, paying bills… basically doing everything for myself and being in charge of my life will be a new experience.”
Education and Career Opportunities
Alyssa had been a student at the American University of Afghanistan and had finished one semester before the relocation. Robin had completed college in Afghanistan with a degree in civil engineering.
Pat notes, “The first host family was crucial in helping Alyssa realize that she was the recipient of a full scholarship at Bard College and drove her there a few weeks after the sisters arrived. That host family also helped Robin with a contact which eventually led to a full scholarship for a two-year MBA at a Texas university. These contacts were essential, and not something we had the connections to arrange.”
Robin received her MBA two months ago. “Getting an education is a huge help with the next phase of our lives here in the U.S.,” she says.
Today, Robin works as a water resource engineer for a leading American company in their Boston office. Having not yet secured a driver’s license, she takes the bus then a train to get there. “I’m still learning about workplace culture,” she explains. “When I run into something I don’t understand, I tell Bruce and Pat, who give me advice and sometimes refer me to people who have answers.”
“Robin is one of the more focused and determined people I have ever met,” says Pat. “She was introduced to employees at her company before leaving for Texas, and kept in regular contact with them, letting them know of her skills, her excellent grades, and her interest in a job. When she was done with school the position was there.”
A Vision for the Future
Robin is hopeful that she will reconnect with her family before long, at which time she plans to get an affordable place of her own to house them. She is also planning further education.
In addition, she wants to give back to her country. “I want to get involved in organizations, activities and projects that educate Afghans about the importance of education for women and girls,” she says. “I want to be a role model and contribute to their success.”
She concludes, “After graduation Bruce and Pat took me to New York City for two days. I felt like a princess getting the royal treatment. This trip made me realize for the second time that in the U.S. I can have the life I dream of and don’t have to accept what others decide for me. Comparing life in Afghanistan with my life here enables me to see the potential for my future.”