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NameShania
Genderfemale
Country of OriginAfghanistan
Destination CountryUnited States
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In 1979, a war erupted in Afghanistan as the Soviet Union began fighting against resistance groups. Grassroots armies known as the Mujahideen had formed as the Afghans tried to claim their religious rights. They were supported by national and international aid from neighboring countries. Afghan civilians, afraid of the violence, started fleeing the country as refugees. I was only three years old when my parents were put in a refugee detention center in the United States.  Rather than moving to a family facility in Texas, my parents left me with family that had already made it safely to America. I was too young to remember the process, but I have been told that it took a lot of time and it was hard because we didnt know what was happening. I know there were a lot of background checks, which were difficult and time consuming but necessary as a prevention mechanism. Im glad government reports show the attention to detail involved because I think thats the point: to make sure everyone feels safe. I do remember feeling confused for a long time- not knowing when we would finally be safe. The first few months were challenging for my parents. They werent able to be with me and they had to answer a lot of questions in front of a lot of people over and over. I dont think people understood that they needed help: a place to live, a way to support themselves and their young child, or that they were scared. They needed hope. They went from one chaotic and scary experience to another. This has affected me my entire life - I chose to devote my professional life to helping others. I volunteered and worked at shelters and crisis centers in high school and college, worked for child welfare systems and foster care providers, and with the federal government to help people get settled. Its hard being a refugee and an immigrant because there are mixed emotions - you feel lucky for being safe and having all of these opportunities, but you also experience rejection and discrimination. It has forced me to reevaluate my culture and identity. Sharing my story helps me balance my American upbringing with the positive parts of my diverse background. This interview was conducted by Kynat Akram in Washington, DC. It is part of No Lost Generation-GW (NLG-GW), supported by the US Department of State, a student-led initiative to help those affected by the ongoing Syrian refugee crises which aims to shatter preconceived ideas and negative stereotypes.

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