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Afghan refugee aids refugees at Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities' Basira Faizy escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban took Kabul

Published: December 15, 2023      

By Katie Zakrzewski
Associate Editor

Katie Zakrzewski

Afghan refugee Basira Faizy escaped Afghanistan with her family when the Taliban attacked. Now, she works at Catholic Charities of Arkansas helping other refugees settle into their new home.

Katie Zakrzewski

Afghan refugee Basira Faizy escaped Afghanistan with her family when the Taliban attacked. Now, she works at Catholic Charities of Arkansas helping other refugees settle into their new home.

How you can help

Catholic Charities of Arkansas provides services and assistance to refugees, asylees, special immigrants and victims of trafficking. To learn more about how you can help refugees in Arkansas, visit dolr.org/catholic-charities#refugee-resettlement.

When Basira Faizy lived in her native Afghanistan two years ago, she decided to post a fun question to her social media: Where do you think I will move to? The United States or France?

While the majority of her friends guessed the United States, Faizy revealed she had been learning French instead with plans to visit France after she graduated from Kabul Medical University.

“But you know what they say – when we make a plan, God laughs,” the 24-year-old said. 

All of Faizy’s plans changed when the Taliban suddenly took over Kabul Aug. 15, 2021. After waiting a week and a half for news to guide them, 15 members of the Faizy family, including Basira’s mother, brother and sister-in-law, all made their way through the chaos to the airport just after midnight Aug. 24. The crowd overflowed past the outside gate, slowing the pace of evacuation as terrorists attempted to stop civilians from boarding flights. 

The family was put on a packed transport plane after three of the family members who had visas refused to leave for hours unless the whole family was able to board. 

“Lots of provinces fell to the Taliban, but we underestimated the Taliban to take Kabul so soon,” Faizy said. 

Faizy found herself on a flight to Virginia. After landing on American soil and spending weeks in a refugee camp, the family decided to move to northwest Arkansas. 

“We came to Arkansas because my brother came to UA Fayetteville for his master’s program,” on a Fulbright scholarship from 2018 to 2020, Faizy said. 

Canopy Northwest Arkansas, a nonprofit that serves refugees, was pivotal in helping the family — as well as nearly 200 other Afghan refugees  —  settle in Arkansas. 

In September 2022, Faizy and her sister-in-law Aquela Faizy were interviewed by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton for their documentary series, “Gutsy” on Apple TV. The series highlights brave women who have defied the odds. 

Faizy defied the odds again when she decided to continue her education in her new home.

“There is a huge difference between here and (Afghanistan),” she said. “During the past government in my country, at least women had the basic right to go to school or university or hang out alone. But at the moment, like last week, I talked with one of my male friends. He said that everything is kind of normal, but for women, no. They’re not able to go to school after sixth grade. Unfortunately, last week was graduation for my classmates at Kabul Medical University. The graduation was only for the guys.”

Faizy was nearly done with her medical degree when her family fled. Now in the United States, Faizy would have to start over, while her female classmates in Afghanistan would not be able to use their degrees. 

As she learned English, Faizy was accepted into UA Little Rock in August 2022 and made the move to the capital city. 

“I was scared at first,” Faizy said of leaving her family behind to pursue education. “I got accepted in a rush, and I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. I needed a job. I needed a place to live and a community of people. Out of nowhere, one of the Afghan families that I met when I visited (Little Rock before applying to UA Little Rock) said they knew a translator who worked at Catholic Charities.”

Shortly after relocating, Faizy began working for Catholic Charities in September 2023. Faizy uses her experiences as a refugee who had to learn a new language and reintegrate to help others.

“I am actively engaged in providing support to women and families … offering interpretation services,” Faizy said. “Additionally, I initiated an ESL (English as a Second Language) class for women, aiming to facilitate English language acquisition.”

But the position doesn’t come without challenges. Faizy said helping other refugees through homesickness and integration into society is one of the hardest parts of her job.

“As an ESL teacher, managing diverse challenges, offering assistance, interpreting and witnessing students miss their families in Afghanistan are intricate aspects,” Faizy said.

Fortunately, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Faizy’s experiences have well-equipped her to help other refugees learn English, learn to drive and pursue their own education.

“My most rewarding aspect as an ESL teacher is assisting students with challenges, providing interpretation services and solving problems, resulting in the joy reflected in their smiles,” Faizy said. “Engaging with new babies and children, equipping them with essentials for resettlement, and instilling hope for a brighter future constitute a deeply fulfilling dimension of my work, blending professionalism with compassion.”

For Faizy, the future seems brighter than it did just a few years ago.

“My long-term goals include excelling in my studies and work as a dental hygiene student at UALR,” Faizy said. “I aspire to become a successful dental hygienist, leveraging innovative technologies to make oral care more affordable. Children in Afghanistan aren’t taught about oral health. Six- and 7-year-olds walk around with metal teeth. Right now, I’m taking general courses. Hopefully next fall, I’ll go to (the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences).”

While Faizy isn’t sure when she’ll be able to visit France, she knows no matter where she goes, she’ll be making a difference.

“I want to have my own business related to the medical field and especially dentistry. I aim to contribute to the Afghan community’s well-being, focusing on enhancing adaptability and success, particularly for women and children.”

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