“It was all smiles and laughs on Sunday at Global Impact Initiative’s holiday party. But many of the families in attendance were carrying the weight of past - and current - challenges. There isn’t even an adjective to describe it when you have left everything you own, everything you know, your whole family behind, and you’ve come here, and you’re still grieving for what you’ve left behind,’ said Anjum Malik, founder and executive director of GII.”

“With two new MetroRapid lines scheduled to begin service toward the end of 2023 as a part of Project Connect, Cap Metro needs to bring on board more drivers and mechanics. To that end, the transit authority announced a partnership in October with the Austin-based organization Global Impact Initiative (Gii) to provide training opportunities for the city's refugee population.”

“On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, Marjana sat on a black leather couch in a North Austin apartment filled with Afghan women making tea and preparing snacks for their weekly get-together…Marjana said the gathering is one of the few places she feels at home and most comfortable.”

Meet leadership of Global Impact Initiative and HOFT Institute, along with several Afghan refugees. Learn more about how these organizations are essential resources to help refugees transition to and thrive in their new home.

“CapMetro and Gii, a non-profit organization that supports refugees and underserved communities, hope the agreement will fill jobs in central Texas, but support those looking for an opportunity to grow their career.”

“Due to the Taliban taking over, there are now many Afghan refugees living right here in Central Texas, and it hasn’t been easy for them. That’s why Global Impact Initiative and Combined Arms came together to give laptops to 40 Afghan refugee families. This is the fourth laptop giveaway they have hosted.”

“It’s been nearly a year since the Afghanistan pullout and almost six months since Russia began its attacks on Ukraine. Since then, Refugee Services of Texas has helped resettle more than 1,000 Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in Austin, and one local nonprofit is looking to address both refugee employment needs and the national truck drivers shortage through a new commercial driver’s license (CDL) program.”

“Amid a national driver shortage and demand for commercial driver’s license (CDL) certified candidates, Austin-based nonprofit Global Impact Initiative (Gii) and CapMetro have partnered on training and job opportunities for refugees and other marginalized community members.”

“Global Impact Initiative has 42 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, signed up for their new CDL training program that just launched this week.”

“As some long-time residents have been forced to relocate from Austin due to rising prices, a subsect of newcomers are struggling to gain access amid limited housing units and transportation access: Afghan refugees.”

“More than a year since the Afghanistan pullout crisis and less than a year since the war in Ukraine began, two Austin high school students have fundraised to help refugee families integrate in Central Texas. Yara Hussain and Stewart Haas, a senior and junior at Headwaters School, helped raise money to purchase sewing machines for four refugee families.”

“One Afghan refugee is sharing her story about her journey from Afghanistan and adjusting to life in the United States. Azita Jawady arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan four months ago. ‘It's a long journey for us because our life is in danger in Afghanistan,’ she said.”

“The Shulzhenko family was living in Kharkiv, near the Russian border. They said it got much too dangerous to stay. They've now lived in Central Texas since April.”

“On Aug. 16, 2021, Ahmad watched the Taliban march into his hometown in the province of Balkh over Facebook live­stream as his brother videoed the takeover from his apartment. It was night for Ahmad and his wife, Rachel, in Dallas. They asked WORLD to use pseudonyms because they’re concerned for the safety of family members still in Afghanistan.”

“Residents at one apartment complex in Round Rock [Texas] are dealing with busted pipes from the freezing weather. Some of those residents are refugees from Afghanistan and are dealing with this after escaping the Taliban. Multiple units at the Townhomes at Double Creek don't have water. Some flooded and still have water dripping.”

“Twenty-year-old Matiullah Noori huddles next to his brother and father on pastel patterned floor cushions. They’re on FaceTime with Matiullah’s uncle and baby cousin. Speaking Pashto into the phone, they raise their voices, trying to be heard from thousands of miles away.”