Welcoming Week: Advice From Former Resettled Refugees and Asylees to Communities Welcoming Afghan Refugees

As communities across the country welcome thousands of arriving Afghan refugees here in the United States, former resettled refugees and asylees are doing critical work to welcome our new neighbors and are eager to bring their experiences and perspectives to bear.

On September 17th, refugee leaders and advocates participated in a rich discussion hosted by The Refugee Storytellers Collective as part of the Welcoming Week 2021 celebration and shared reflections on what welcoming should look like and what our new neighbors need most from us as they rebuild their lives from panelists who have experienced this very process themselves.

Basma Alawee, WAAA National Campaign Manager and Executive Director/Co-Founder of WeaveTales, moderated the conversation. Panelists included:

• Shamail, Afghan asylee

• Dauda Sesay, Former resettled refugee from Sierra Leone, Refugee Storytellers Collective Member, and Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate from Louisiana

• Ayda Zugay, Refugee Storytellers Collective Member, Refugee Congress Delegate for Massachusetts

• Geeta, Afghan SIV

• Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, Founder and President of Ideas Beyond Borders

• Dagemawit Kebede, Refugee Advocacy Lab Outreach Assistant, Refugee Storytellers Collective Member