Qudratullah
Qudratullah received his citizenship last month with the hopes of bringing his family from Afghanistan to Cleveland, and he is grateful to The Hope Center (THC) for its help.
Before coming to THC, receiving citizenship was “very hard” for Qudratullah, he says, but when he met our team of staff and volunteers, his whole perspective changed. “Going to the THC for one week is like learning what you need to learn in a full year's time,” he shares. He had teachers to help and encourage him, and he also felt a new “can do” attitude towards successfully passing his citizenship test, which soon became a reality.
Mark, a longtime, dedicated volunteer and teacher at THC, asked the citizenship class a few weeks ago, largely consisting of students from Afghanistan, “Why are you here?,” and the reply from multiple students was, “for peace and freedom.” Isn’t that what we all want for ourselves and our families?
Qudratullah, his wife, Salima and their children came to Cleveland from Afghanistan five years ago for their safety. They both have parents still in the country desperate for the same, and their hope is that his citizenship helps make it possible to bring these loved ones to Cleveland. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August, THC has seen a surge of local Afghans pursuing citizenship for the same reason.
Qudratullah, how do you feel about what is happening in Afghanistan right now?
“The Taliban want to kill everybody. My family tells me that they are not safe. The Taliban kill our people, and there is nothing good for the people left in Afghanistan.”
Qudratullah had a successful life in Afghanistan, where he was a literature professor and published author. When he and his family arrived in Cleveland, they started over, which he says was very difficult. “I felt so much pressure in my mind and in my heart. I didn’t know what anything was, how to find a market or any other Afghani family,” he says.
With almost 600 newly arriving Afghans coming to Cleveland before the end of the year, you are needed to help welcome these brothers and sisters with support provided through our team at THC. You can help by giving or volunteering today!
Like Qudratullah and his family, who found hope in a hopeless situation, the same can be true for all of the refugee and immigrant friends the Lord brings to Cleveland. This is the reason THC exists, and your support makes it all possible. Thank you for all of the ways you are generous to Him.