“A new culture, country, people, and language. It’s really hard to know what kind of future you’re going to face…we found great help and friendship with RHP.” – Rahim, RHP Neighbor
Finding Refuge in Raleigh
When Rahim and Laila* fled Afghanistan in 2021 and arrived in Raleigh with their three young children, Refugee Hope Partners was among the first to welcome them. RHP staff visited them often, supporting the family as they adjusted to a new culture, language, and community. “When we arrived here, we didn’t know how school was going to be or how to enroll our kids,” Rahim recalled. “It was stressful, but RHP was there.”
Growing Through Homework Help
When RHP launched a new Homework Help location in Apex in 2023, Rahim and Laila’s two sons, Arman and Karim, received tutoring and English support each week. Arman’s teacher soon noticed remarkable academic and social growth, and RHP also connected him to a soccer team that became a safe and joyful outlet. When the family moved to better housing in 2024, RHP celebrated with them, but the increased distance meant they would be out of reach of RHP programs. “We were sad that we were disconnecting with RHP, but happy to be moving to a better house,” Rahim said.
A Joyful Reunion
That separation ended earlier this year when RHP opened a new high school Homework Help site at Brock Contract Services in South Raleigh. Staff were overjoyed to reunite with the family and welcome Arman back, now joined by his cousins who recently arrived in Raleigh. This fall, Laila began attending ESL classes at RHP’s new South Raleigh Pilot Hub while their young daughter is cared for in ESL Kids Club. Reflecting on the past four years, Laila shared, “In Afghanistan, I never wrote or drove. But now I do both.”
Expanding Community Across Raleigh
For Rahim and Laila’s family, these new connections represent far more than programs. They are reminders of belonging. And for RHP, expanding across Raleigh means more families like Rahim’s can find the community they need to thrive in our city.
*Names changed for participant privacy.