After arriving from Afghanistan as a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder in July 2020, Shallah Shaiq began the process of building a new life in the U.S. with her husband and teenage son. Shallah initially earned a bachelor’s degree in law from Afghanistan and carries a passion for working with her Afghan peers through communications. Shallah felt determined to acquire the skills she needed to develop her resume and continue her education in the U.S.  so she could continue to support women’s rights within an Afghan immigrant organization.  

Community Sponsorship Program at IRC New Jersey

A set of recommendations from the IRC

Whether it’s through restrictive laws that prohibit them from working, or through language and cultural barriers that make it extremely difficult to earn an income, refugees have to try to survive another disaster—a life lived in limbo. Here's how supporting refugees to build careers benefits everyone.