NMSU Student, Professor Assist Afghan Refugees In New Mexico

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Hiba Muhyi, a senior majoring in English at New Mexico State University, speaks to NMSU students who volunteered with the Afghan Refugee Response project, which Muhyi launched with her mother, Rajaa Shindi, far left, after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August.

LAS CRUCES – Hiba Muhyi was getting ready to start her senior 12 months at New Mexico State College when horrific photographs from internationally began to look on the information.

Simply earlier than the autumn semester at NMSU, the Taliban seized management of Afghanistan in an rebellion that plunged the nation into chaos and despatched 1000’s of Afghans fleeing for his or her lives.

Watching the state of affairs unfold from afar, Muhyi and her mom, Rajaa Shindi, sprang into motion.

Muhyi, an English main, and Shindi, an assistant professor of accounting and knowledge methods in the School of Enterprise, began mobilizing college students and organizations throughout NMSU to assist Afghan refugees resettling in southern New Mexico. Collectively, the mother-daughter duo launched the NMSU Afghan Refugee Response mission.

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“As a baby of immigrant mother and father, I’m naturally enthusiastic about these types of subjects and serving to communities which are similar to my very own,” Muhyi mentioned.

The mission initially started as a name for volunteer translators, Muhyi mentioned, however has since morphed right into a extra bold effort to assist long-term refugees in collaboration with the Las Cruces Muslim group, Afghan Refugee Disaster Committee, Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Providers, and Lutheran Household Providers Rocky Mountains.

Since late August, Muhyi mentioned, greater than 80 volunteers have come collectively to assist the refugee mission in numerous methods, from donating items to serving as cultural mentors and translators. The group has collected greater than 100 home items to furnish a number of momentary flats for displaced Afghan households, Muhyi added, and the donations maintain coming in.

Rajaa Shindi, left, and her daughter, Hiba Muhyi, launched the Afghan Refugee Response project this semester at New Mexico State University to help Afghan refugees resettling in southern New Mexico. Shindi is an assistant professor of accounting and information systems in the College of Business, and Muhyi is a senior majoring in English.

“It’s been rather more than simply furnishings donations,” Shindi mentioned. “Our volunteers are serving to these households study English, apply for jobs, enroll their youngsters in college and adapt to a brand new society. There are such a lot of issues that they want proper now, and our volunteers are making a significant distinction in supporting Afghan refugees at a time after they need assistance.”

Muhyi mentioned the outpouring of assist from the NMSU group has surpassed her expectations.

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“We’ve had such a fantastic response from division heads, professors, presidents of scholar organizations and others asking what can they do both as a person or a gaggle to assist with the refugees,” she mentioned. “We’ve had quite a lot of people who find themselves keen to do no matter they will to assist and assist.”

Muhyi praised a number of campus teams for contributing to the mission, together with the NMSU chapter of the Affiliation of Data Know-how Professionals, Pre-Pharmacy Society, Pre-Dental Society, Black Pupil Group, Pupil Social Work Affiliation and the English Graduate Pupil Group.

Presently, Muhyi is internet hosting a winter coat and blanket drive-in collaboration with the Pre-Pharmacy Society and Pre-Dental Society. These in donating coats or blankets can drop off objects in designated bins in Hardman and Jacobs Undergraduate Studying Middle and Aggie Lounge in Corbett Middle Pupil Union by way of Friday, Dec. 10, Muhyi mentioned.

Final month, Muhyi and Shindi toured an Afghan refugee camp at Fort Bliss and met different volunteers serving to to resettle households.

“We bought to satisfy a few of the numerous volunteers serving to with donation sorting and aiding on the a number of retailer websites, the place free garments, sneakers, toddler meals, and different objects are supplied and distributed to the refugees,” Muhyi mentioned. “However there’s nonetheless a fantastic want for devoted volunteers and donations.”

Muhyi mentioned the most-needed objects embody college provides, closed-toe sneakers, kids and toddler winter garments, males’s and girls’s winter garments, and hygiene objects. To donate by way of the NMSU Afghan Refugee Response mission, contact Muhyi at [email protected].

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For Muhyi, overseeing the mission has been a time-consuming however rewarding expertise.

“It’s been difficult however value all of the efforts and lengthy hours,” she mentioned. “It’s very a lot a workforce effort, nonetheless. I wish to thank Dr. Shindi, the NMSU group and all our volunteers for his or her assist and help in serving to these households.”

Carlos Andres López writes for New Mexico State College Advertising and Communications and could be reached at 575-646-1955, or by e-mail at [email protected].

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