By Farida Naqshbandi, iACT’s ELI Testing Specialist

iACT’s Refugee program helps newly arrived refugees with English language classes, youth mentorship and health and wellness education. I work with Afghan Refugees to help them get enrolled in ELI (English Language Instruction) classes. Through my work I want to make newly arrived refugees feel welcome and comfortable with the new environment and to help them to get access to different tools of learning the language through iACT’s Refugee Program.

As a refugee myself, I can understand how hard it is not to know the language. It is more difficult when you are not familiar with the new culture and you are starting your life from the very beginning. I was in the same situation so I am very aware of refugees’ needs, their problems and what specific assistance they need.
I always get feedback from refugee clients that participating in the ELI program not only helped them to be able to continue their education, but also made them feel very confident about their jobs and made them optimist about their careers. As an example I would like to share the story of one of our students, let’s call her Iqbal (name has been changed for confidentiality).

Iqbal is a single mother with three daughters- her husband passed away 7 years ago. She is the only supporter of her daughters. When the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, she was very scared and wanted to leave the country. She believed that Afghanistan was not a safe place for widows and girls with no adult men in the household. She came as a refugee to the US in August 2021. She had very hard days after arriving in Austin. Though she appreciated all the support and help that agencies and NGO’s in Austin provided for her, after a few months she had to manage her life and household herself. The biggest problem that she had was not knowing the language and having to get a job to support her family. She decided to find a job first but she realized that working without knowing the language is very hard and stressful. She joined iACT’s English classes. Though it took some time, she is very happy that she can see improvements in her language and she feels more confident. She said she is grateful to iACT for providing English classes so that she could learn the language and also find friends and be around people from different cultures. She is working very hard and hopes that one day her daughters will complete their education and will be successful in their lives in the US.

Learning a new language is not an easy thing- but it can be done. And it can change a life.