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An Afghan family turned to The Salvation Army as they navigated the challenges of starting over in a new country.
In April 2024, Abuzar Qasemi, Nilofar Hamidi and their three children left their home country of Afghanistan for the U.S. But with new beginnings sometimes come new challenges, and the family found themselves in an unfamiliar country, unsure of how to find their footing.
“At that time, we didn’t have a car,” Hamidi said. “We didn’t know of any help.”
Shortly after their move, they needed food assistance and were referred to the food pantry at The Salvation Army Concord Corps in Concord, California, by a family member.
There, Qasemi and Hamidi found a lot more than the groceries they needed. They met Silvia Alvarez, the Concord Corps’ Pathway of Hope case manager, who offered guidance as they started anew in America.
“She was very supportive and encouraging,” Qasemi said. “She listened to our situation and helped us connect with resources and integrate into a new environment and system.”
This guidance was part of The Salvation Army Pathway of Hope program, which offers case management to families looking to become self-sufficient, overcome housing, employment and education hurdles, and escape the cycle of poverty.
The Pathway of Hope provided the family with employment support, rental assistance and connections to resources like English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
“It was financial support and also emotional support because we felt we were not alone,” Qasemi said. “We knew we were in good hands.”
What is the Pathway of Hope?
The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope provides individualized services to families with children to address their immediate material needs and provide long-term engagement to stop the chronic cycle of poverty. It seeks to:
– Identify client aspirations and strengths to ensure clients’ plans are authentic and sustainable.
– Focus on root causes instead of symptoms, especially barriers to education, employment, well-being and stability that emerge at the earliest stages of a child’s and family’s development.
– Create a holistic plan of action supported by relevant services, both within The Salvation Army and outside it.
Qasemi and Hamidi were committed to getting the most out of the program. They met with Alvarez regularly, followed her advice, and took action on what they needed to be successful.
“What I saw in this family is the willingness to succeed,” Alvarez said. “They were very grateful for all the resources and help that I was providing them.”
Within a few months of working with Alvarez, Qasemi secured a job as a Pest Detection Specialist at the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture. Qasemi enjoys his job and is working toward a promotion to a permanent position.
“Silvia told me to apply for this job, and I got hired…when it was a difficult time for us,” Qasemi said. “This is a very good job for me because it’s aligned with my background in agriculture.”
“We felt [we were] not alone. We knew we [were] in good hands.”
Abuzar Qasemi
Salvation Army Del Oro Division Pathway of Hope Coordinator Julee Schmidt attributed the family’s success in securing employment to their dedication to the program.
“They always came to their appointments,” Schmidt said. “They followed through on the steps that Silvia had laid out for them to do, and he got a county job in less than six months of being in America. That’s amazing because those are really hard to get.”
Since then, the family has been able to build a stable life in the U.S.
“Our lives have changed. With his salary, we can manage our life, we can pay our rent and our bills,” Hamidi said. “We are happy. On our table is good food. Before, we didn’t have this.”
For Alvarez, the family’s experience highlights the value of the Pathway of Hope for immigrant families adjusting to life in a new country.
“These are immigrants who come here, and most of the time they don’t know anybody,” Alvarez said. “They don’t have a lot of relatives, and then here comes Pathway of Hope with a case manager who is willing and able to help them and guide them through the system…and be there right beside them, and give them advice on what to do, and where to go, so they really appreciate that.”
Hamidi underscored the significance of Pathway of Hope for newcomer families in the U.S.
“We, the refugees, need this,” Hamidi said. “These programs are very important because they help show us the right way, and give us self-confidence to keep going up.”
Do Good:
- The Salvation Army exists to meet human need wherever, whenever and however we can. See more here.
