Afghan Resettlement Project
In fall 2021, the Interfaith Center of Arkansas partnered with Catholic Charities to help resettle Afghans who arrived in the United States. After the fall of US supported government in Afghanistan many of the residence had to flee from there homeland. We invite you to scroll below to learn more about our work and this project.
Afghan Family Holiday Party
The Interfaith Center of Arkansas hosted a Holiday Party on Saturday, December 17th 2022 at Second Baptist in downtown Little Rock. Four of our board members attended and helped with the festivities.. There were at least 100 people including twelve Afghan families. Three Afghan families were not able to attend and we missed them. The holiday party was catered by Al Seraj Restaurant and the food was delicious. On this cold day we also served hot chocolate with ice cream, all different kinds of tea and coffee. For the children we had a cotton candy machine, face painting, corn hole game and all the kids participated in a snowball (foam snowballs) fight. For many of our children, this was the first time getting to taste some of the goodies and play these game. The men got together for some much need catching up and the women did the same.
We thankeveryone that helped with this event!
Afghan Families’ Picnic
On Saturday, March 26, 2022 we were finally able to get our Afghan families back together for a time of delicious food, games and just getting out of the house. Because a resurgence of Covid this winter, this was the first time all of our Afghan families were able to get together for fellowship since Thanksgiving. The picnic was held at beautiful Lake Nixon with the help of our partner sponsors We thank all the volunteers for making this happen!
Afghan Women and Girls
The Interfaith Center of Arkansas, in partnership with Dr.Sara Tariq and Helen Porter, created a program for Afghan women and girls that helps them know and defend their rights, lead mentally and physically healthy lives, and influence decisions at home. We have reached out to Women for Women International who has developed a program that offers Afghan women a constructive, dignified way to discover their power.
Afghan Thanksgiving
On Saturday, November 27, 2021 The Interfaith Center of Arkansas, Catholic Charities and the families’ sponsors had lovely event that introduced our friends from Afghanistan to a special holiday here in America.
Rev. Susan Sims Smith hosted the Thanksgiving event at Catholic Charities. The meal itself took place inside the dining hall at St. John’s Seminary where Catholic Charities has their offices.The meal lasted from 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM. The sponsors provided transportation and helped them find there way to the event on the campus. The food was provided by Catholic Charities and The Interfaith Center of Arkansas.
This was the first time for our families to get together for fun and getting to know each other and it was a huge success!
We thank everyone that helped with the event.
In the fall of 2021 along with Catholic Charities and The Interfaith Center of Arkansas welcome our first Afghan friends to Central Arkansas.
In September 2021 The Arkansas Democrat Gazette wrote a beautiful article about the families impending arrival. Please feel free to click the link below.
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/sep/24/states-first-afghan-refugees-set-to-arrive-in/
In October 2021 the Northwest Arkansas version of The Arkansas Democrat Gazette publish this wonderful article of there pending arrival. Clink the link below for all the details
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/oct/16/religious-groups-welcoming-afghans/
Training Video’s on Afghan Culture and Religion
Below is a button to watch a series of videos to learn more about our friends from Afghanistan. Please feel free to watch this series about some very wonderful people