POWIR Update: Seeking IT Professional

POWIR Update: Seeking IT Professional

The POWIR group is seeking an IT professional as a volunteer tutor for one of the young men we are helping to resettle here in MA. He has a college degree from Afghanistan and is a hard worker. He is working on a Google Professional Certificate in IT Support and could use some assistance with this course.

Google has partnered with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies to distribute 30,000 scholarships among its member organizations. Upon completion, he will be well prepared for a competitively paid job as a Computer Support Specialist, IT Manager, Help Desk Technician, or Network Administrator, and will be able to directly apply for jobs with Google and over 150 U.S. employers.

The course is online at the student’s own pace so your time commitment is flexible. Students are expected to complete the certificate within six months, and he is on track to finish in January, but the material is becoming more challenging…

August 28: POWIR Update

August 28: POWIR Update

We are pleased to share with you that the 3 young adult men who came to Massachusetts from Afghanistan in January of 2022 are doing very well. One of them had some dental education in Afghanistan and his dream is to be a dental assistant. A big thank you to the Drs. Ali of Wellesley Dental group for the onsite educational opportunity they have been offering for several months now. They are also guiding him along the path to become a dental assistant and he is almost there.

The young man who loves to cook is working in a restaurant as an assistant in the kitchen and can now make salad, pasta and pizza. The third works in a grocery store while studying IT through a special program sponsored in part by Google. We are grateful to all 3 employers for their welcome of these 3 refugees…

POWIR Update: Seeking Legal Assistance

POWIR Update: Seeking Legal Assistance

We are in need of legal assistance for the three young men from Afghanistan who we are helping to resettle. 

We are seeking immigration attorneys who would be willing to work pro bono to represent our young men through this process.

If you are an immigration attorney willing to work with our young men and/or provide guidance to the SJSP POWIR team – or if you have any leads on attorneys or organizations that might be able to help –  we would love to hear from you!

Bike Collection for “The Bike Connector” – Sunday, May 15 at 1:00pm in the Saint John School Parking Lot

Bike Collection for “The Bike Connector” – Sunday, May 15 at 1:00pm in the Saint John School Parking Lot

The Bike Connector is a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run, community-based program that provides free bikes for people in need: children who have never had a bike and adults who need transportation. They also offer “Do It Together” bike repair workshop, affordable bicycles, and hands-on educational programming. 

They recently provided free bikes to the three Afghani young men we are helping to resettle through the POWIR program. 

The Bike Connector only works when they have bikes. They depend on generous donors to donate outgrown or unused bikes. Their volunteer team makes necessary repairs to ensure a safe ride.

If you have an idle bike – child or adult – please consider donating it to The Bike Connector at our Bike Collection event!

JCRC Webinar: Our Community’s Afghan Resettlement Work – Thursday, February 3 at 12:00pm

JCRC Webinar: Our Community’s Afghan Resettlement Work – Thursday, February 3 at 12:00pm

Our community has watched the scenes coming out of Afghanistan – the thousands of Afghans, many of whom laid their lives on the lines for allied forces – desperately trying to flee perilous conditions and escape to safety. And many of us have wondered, “what can we do to help?” Join the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) to learn more about how we work with our partners to build an infrastructure to welcome Afghan immigrants. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Featuring Temple Emanuel’s Rav Hazzan Aliza Berger, JCRC Director of Synagogue Organizing Rachie Lewis, and St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative’s Kelly Meraw…

POWIR Update

POWIR Update

Our recent arrivals have settled into the apartment and are doing well. They are 3 wonderful, enthusiastic young adult men. They have already made friends with other young men from Afghanistan living in the same apartment complex. A great community is developing.

Catholic Charities is working on the documents they need such as work permits. Jewish Vocational Services will be providing free English classes and career counseling. Our team will be tutoring them, taking them grocery shopping, doing banking and other errands, teaching them how to use the T, and more!

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Twice a month, all the POWIR leaders in the area get together for information exchange and support. One of those leaders is trying to create a document of job opportunities in the greater Boston area that all of the refugees could benefit from. For example, they have identified an events company that wants seasonal workers. If you know of any job opportunities, please contact Mary Campion…

POWIR Update: Our New Residents Have Arrived!

POWIR Update: Our New Residents Have Arrived!

Our POWIR team is pleased to announce that our new residents have arrived. Three wonderful young adult men are now settled in the apartment. Two of them speak English very well and were in the midst of university studies in Afghanistan. They would like to resume these studies once their English skills reach that level. They are polite, enthusiastic, grateful, and very engaging young men. They play soccer and volleyball and are very interested in American culture.

The team is looking for people who could take them on outings such as bowling, sightseeing in Boston, hiking, or other entertainment. They will need to learn things such as how to ride the subway. If you are interested in helping out and meeting these new, very engaging young men, please contact Mary Campion.

POWIR Update: Meet the Family!

POWIR Update: Meet the Family!

On Friday, November 19, we welcomed with joy a beautiful Refugee Family from Kabul, Afghanistan. Iqbal (dad), Khatol (mom), Shahzad (2 year old boy) and Huda (1 year old girl) are settled into their home in Boston. Iqbal is eager to begin the process of finding a job, and with his solid English skills and strong work ethic, we are confident he’ll be employed quickly!

We can not thank you enough for your generosity in contributing to their resettlement efforts…