Circle of Welcome
“After the militias took over, as a religious minority, Yasmin and her family were forced to flee from Iraq for their own safety,” said Seth Hershberger, area manager for the Columbia office of the New American’s Program at Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC). “Their lives were at risk, so they fled to Turkey. Yasmin and her sisters were legally eligible for resettlement in the United States, which meant leaving her parents behind.”
Yasmin, like all those in the New Americans Program, has experienced trauma and fear. They have also undergone a strenuous vetting program by the Federal Government to be here.
“They have every right to come here feeling defeated, but instead, what we see are strong, resilient individuals who have escaped and now want to start a new life so they can give back to the country and people who welcomed them,” Hershberger said.
Yasmin fled Iraq in 2013 and a full two years later was finally able to be resettled in the United States in 2015.
In the beginning, Hershberger said she had a lot of struggles finding work. She came with no English or transferrable skills. But through the support of her caseworker and volunteers, she signed up for English classes and determined that she was interested in working at a hospital. “She wanted to do work that allowed her to give back,” Hershberger said. “She wanted to help others.”
After working hard to learn English, Yasmin also excelled at the necessary classes to earn her certificate in Phlebotomy and started working at the local hospital. Today, she enjoys her work helping others and is happily married.
Yasmin is one of many stories of new Americans who make a lot out of a little. LSC offers eight programs to new Americans through federal contracts. The first program addresses the initial resettlement. It is intense and provides for basic needs for the first 90 days. Through other programs they are also eligible to receive services for up to five years to ensure they become independent and self-sufficient which is the goal of the program.
“After they complete the program, they know English,” Hershberger said. “They are culturally adjusted. They have a career, and they are self-sufficient.”
The initial funding from government contracts for the LSC New Americans Program is limited. “Churches and civic groups provide the difference through our Circle of Welcome Program to help get them on their feet,” Hershberger shared. “We pair each family or individual with a church group, who takes them to the doctor, get them registered for classes, and provide their core services. They also become their extended family and provide fellowship. When churches and individuals give to the New Americans Program, 100% of their generosity supports families directly.”
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, LSC has welcomed over 750 Afghan refugees and expanded its program. There are now five LSC New Americans Program offices located in Raleigh and Asheville, North Carolina and Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia, South Carolina.
In the Columbia office alone, 195 were resettled with the support of 15 LSC teammates and 25 churches helping to provide for these children of God. Churches can get involved by contacting Lutheran Services Carolinas at 1-800-HELPING or by visiting https://lscarolinas.net/refugee-and-immigrant-services/.