Double Header of Support: Resource Round‑Up + Digital Skills for Afghan Families

September 27, 2025 | Riverside, CA

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Human Migration Institute hosted a dynamic “double header” of workshops that reflected our holistic approach to newcomer integration. The day featured two powerful sessions: a morning workshop focused on career pathway resources for refugees and an afternoon session tailored to the digital literacy needs of Afghan newcomer families.

Together, these back-to-back events sent a clear message — stable, thriving futures are built not just on economic opportunity, but also on digital inclusion, cultural understanding, and community connection.

Morning Session: Refugee Career Pathways – Resource Round-Up

Our Career Navigators and Case Managers led a hands-on “Resource Round-Up,” where clients explored essential pillars of daily stability and long-term career success. The goal: to equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and support networks they need to navigate life and work in the U.S.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• Transportation Access
  We addressed how to overcome one of the most persistent barriers to work and training: transportation. Resources included local transit passes with the RTA, ride-share discounts, and carpooling networks like IE Commuter.

• Career & Educational Resources
  Participants were introduced to local job training programs at the Riverside Adult School, Riverside Community College opportunities, credential translation services with ECE, and online certification programs.

• Upwardly Global & Online Learning
  We showcased Upwardly Global’s powerful career resources for immigrants and refugees, alongside flexible, high-value online learning options like eCornell and Coursera.

• Life Resources in the Inland Empire
  Local supports were shared — from legal aid and housing assistance to public benefits and food security. We also demonstrated how to use USAHello and the FindHello app, a multilingual directory connecting immigrants to local services.

🤝 Stories, Struggles, and Strengths

The session became a circle of shared experience. Clients opened up about their journeys — from certification program stories to facing unexpected cultural, linguistic, and bureaucratic challenges.

Our staff also reflected on their growth, describing how this workshop helped them better identify service gaps and refine coaching techniques. The space became not just educational, but deeply empathetic and community-driven.

Afternoon Session: Digital Skills for Afghan Families (in Dari)

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to our Afghan Newcomer Support Program (ANSP), where we hosted a digital skills workshop conducted entirely in Dari — a language widely understood in Afghanistan and among our clients.

Though many participants speak Pashto at home, Dari ensured broader comprehension, reducing barriers to learning.

🧠 What We Covered

• Zoom Basics & Accessing Online Training
  Families were guided through installing Zoom, logging in, and navigating virtual classrooms — a gateway skill for remote education, telehealth, and community sessions.

• Email for Everyday U.S. Life
  We emphasized the importance of email for staying connected to employers, schools, doctors, and immigration authorities. Hands-on practice included writing emails, checking inboxes, and resetting passwords.

• Smartphone Document Scanning
  Clients learned how to photograph and upload documents using their phones — a key skill for submitting applications, school records, and ID forms securely and efficiently.

• Digital Document Safety
  With sensitivity to the concerns surrounding immigration status, we covered password protection and document security — ensuring families feel safe and informed.

• Introducing USAHello.org
  We walked through this trusted, multilingual site and its companion app, FindHello, showing how to locate services like legal help, health care, ESL classes, and more.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Community in Action

Despite language barriers, childcare responsibilities, and transportation hurdles, families showed up — ready to learn and support one another. Children engaged with supervised educational activities while parents and older siblings participated in the session.

Clients asked questions, helped one another troubleshoot, and shared their aspirations. The atmosphere was hopeful, resilient, and supportive.

Why This Day Mattered

This wasn’t just two events in one day — it was a demonstration of how we show up for refugee families. By pairing economic opportunity with digital inclusion, we honored the full spectrum of what it takes to build a new life in a new country.

We also centered the voices of our clients — their resilience, aspirations, and lived experiences. Hosting a workshop in Dari sent a clear message: language and trust matter. When we meet people where they are, we empower them to move forward with confidence.

This day was about more than training. It was about connection, capacity, and community.

What’s Next

We’re already building on the momentum:

• Follow-Up Support
  Our team connects with participants one-on-one to help them apply what they’ve learned — from enrolling in training programs to setting up professional email accounts, we are there to guide families with the best support.

• Expanding Access
  We’re translating workshop content into accessible digital formats — including guides, handouts, and video tutorials — so more people can benefit, anytime and anywhere.

💬 Final Word

At Human Migration Institute, we believe that integration is not a solo journey. It happens when people are given access, support, and agency — and when services are delivered in ways that are culturally informed, community-rooted, and practically useful.

We’re proud of the groundwork laid on September 27 — and even more excited about where it leads.