Togetherness and community smooth path for Lincoln’s Afghan refugees

One Lincoln family didn't want other refugees to have as difficult a time as they did.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – It isn’t easy for Afghan refugees who are just making it to their new homes, but they’ve got a helping hand in Lincoln from some people who have been there before.

“The refugee families are going through a lot. It’s a social anxiety when you get here; it’s a cultural shock”, says owner of Lincoln Pharmacy Faheem Rashidi. “There’s a lot of difficulties that they are facing.”

Faheem and his wife Rabia both came to the United States in 2000. It was just as hard 22 years ago as it is today.

“We didn’t see anybody like Afghan people and we did not speak English. There was no store around us, so it was very hard for us”, remembers Rabia. “We weren’t even able to call my country, to my friends and family, for almost two months.”

Many of those issues are still common, which is why Faheem and Rabia decided to bring everyone together with an event at Embassy Suites Lincoln. One day of enjoying each other’s company to make things just a little easier.

“For families to be leaving your whole life that you worked so hard to build, and then leave your country, I know how it feels”, says Faheem. “It’s very hard.”

More than just a gettogether, the meeting was also designed to help new arrivals to navigate their new circumstances. It was a real success, with many more people showing up than expected, all of them so thankful for the experience.

Rabia sums up her feelings thusly: “I just love helping people, and I’m very thankful that I’m able to help people, and I hope that in the future I will be able to help people. That’s my goal.”

For those who have always been here and don’t know what it’s like to be a refugee, there’s still a way to help, too.

“I’m asking everyone to support them if you can”, says Faheem. “You don’t have to support financially. Just a nice comment, word, welcome, will make you feel better. It will empower you. It will make you feel that you’re a part of the community.”