SPOKANE, Wash. – A new housing project in Spokane is set to become a place of hope for refugees like Nafisa Zafari, offering a chance to rebuild their lives in safety. The project will soon provide housing for dozens of families starting over.
Nafisa Zafari, who came to Spokane from Afghanistan at the age of 21, shared her experiences and the challenges she faced in her home country.
“We have a situation in Afghanistan. Taliban is not letting women to go to school or even go to work,” she said.
In Afghanistan, Nafisa worked alongside the U.S. Army to help open schools. However, her work made her a target when the Taliban returned.
“When Taliban came, I was stuck in Afghanistan for seven months until this U.S. Embassy team was able to walk in with me from Afghanistan,” Nafisa explained.
Nafisa had to leave Afghanistan with just a backpack and one set of clothes, saying goodbye to her parents without knowing when she’d see them again.
Her father later died from diabetes, and her husband and mother remain overseas.
“I lost my dad when I came here but my husband and my mom are in Afghanistan,” she shared.
In Spokane, Nafisa faced the challenge of starting over at a community college after leaving a university in Afghanistan.
“At the beginning it was really hard. When everybody that comes to the different country, everything is hard,” she stated.
Nafisa found support through Thrive, a women’s program that helped her make new friends and find a job. She now works as a resource coordinator, helping other refugees.
“We know that the rent is really high everywhere and this affordable housing are helping people to pay their rent until they find job and they settle down here,” Nafisa said.
Thrive’s new housing project will feature 45 affordable units, half of which are reserved for refugees, providing a second chance for many like Nafisa.
Despite the opportunities, the pain of separation from her family remains.
“I hope one day I can see my family again and they can come here. That’s my dream,” she expressed.
Communication with her family is only possible through an app.
“Everyday we are talking to each other,” she said.
Her mother and husband face challenges in Afghanistan, unable to find jobs due to the hazardous conditions.
“The area that they are living, it’s a lot of hazardous genocide happening and it’s really risky for them to go find a job,” Nafisa explained.
Nafisa emphasized that leaving her country was not a choice.
“These refugee people are forced to leave their country. Nobody likes to leave their home country,” she said.
She expressed gratitude for the opportunities and support she has received in Spokane.
This story highlights the importance of community support for refugees and the ongoing challenges they face. Thrive’s new housing project located at 6980 N. Nevada Street, aims to provide a foundation for new beginnings in Spokane.
