Mohammad and his family arrived in Atlanta just two months ago after he received a special immigrant visa (SIV) for his service with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Congress created the Afghan SIV program in 2009 to enable Afghan citizens—along with their spouses and children under 21—who worked beside U.S. troops to immigrate to safety in America.
Loyalty to the U.S. government can put SIV recipients—who serve as interpreters, translators, security officers, and in other support roles—and their families at risk of danger, threats and retaliation. In Afghanistan, Mohammad worked as a personal trainer for the U.S. Army and as the manager of the NATO gym in Kabul. “I taught cardio classes, very intense body pump classes, cardio, and circuit training classes,” Mohammad shared. He knows basic greetings in around 15 different languages after his time at the NATO gym and is fluent in English, Dari, Pashto and Hindi.
When the IRC in Atlanta first welcomed the family in October, they initially decided to stay with Mohammad’s cousin, who had already resettled in Georgia. “It was very hard when we first moved here, living with my cousin away from the city,” Mohammad said. “We were feeling very depressed and missing the city life.” However, the Resettlement team was able to work with the family to find a better living situation, “The IRC helped us find a new apartment to love in Clarkston.”
SIV recipients are eligible for the same resettlement assistance, programs, and other benefits as refugees admitted under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The family are participating in the IRC’s Adult Education programs and Mohammad recently secured his first job at DSI Fitness in Norcross with support from his IRC Employment Specialist. Well on their way to self-sufficiency, Mohammad is currently enrolled in the IRC's Career Development program and is pursuing his personal trainer certification with hopes of restarting his career here in the U.S.
So far, transportation has proven the biggest barrier and the family hopes to purchase a car in the future. But the good far outweighs the bad, and Mohammad is grateful “to have a home and food to eat, for people’s good manners and attitudes, good rules, and safety from the war in Afghanistan.” He shared, “I have hope for more success in our new life.”
To learn more about the work of the IRC in Atlanta and for information on how you can get involved with the IRC as a donor or volunteer, please contact Development Manager, Kalie Lasiter, at Kalie.Lasiter [at] Rescue.org or 678-636-8941.
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