Afghans seek jobs in El Paso as their resettlement process continues

EL PASO, Texas – Months after Afghans fled their country and resettled in El Paso, the process to help find them jobs continues.

In August, many Afghans fled the county after the Taliban had taken over Kabul.

El Calvario United Methodist Church Refugee Resettlement Program is an agency that has been helping the Afghan refugees throughout the entire resettlement process.

The agency has been helping the refugees find affordable housing in the region and furnish their homes.

Officials at the agency said they are now helping refugees find jobs, but there are present challenges.

According to Veronica Frescas, the community outreach and development director of El Calvario United Methodist Church Refugee Resettlement Program, about 50 Afghan refugees are living in El Paso.

Many of them chose to stay in this region because they may have family members living nearby or simply wanted to stay in El Paso.

Frescas said they are trying to find five jobs- the low number is because of the small number of Afghans in the area.

“There are many that do not speak the language and do not have jobs and are still expected to pay rent that the rest of us here in El Paso are still struggling with. They are new El Pasoans as well so whatever we have been struggling with they are as well- and we are talking about jobs and housing.”

Frescas said that the agency is trying to help the Afghan refugees become independent.

She said the biggest challenge is the language barrier. Many refugees do not speak English, but she says there are methods to overcome these challenges.

She said the Afghan refugees wouldn’t have to learn English to find a job, but instead can be taught at a workplace how to complete a task, and it will be done.

“We are looking for business owners that are willing to hire them during this process because there is no way they are going to be fluent in English in a short amount of time, but looking for those business owners that understand.”

Frescas is calling on businesses that can hire these Afghans for full-time jobs. She says they are more than ready to work.

“If they made it this far, I mean you can only imagine fleeing the Taliban. They will continue to work and that is why they are going to be some of the best- your best employees that you are going to be able to have because of their tenacity and resiliency,” she said.

Bilal Ahadi, a resettled Afghan living in El Paso, has encountered major obstacles.

“Everything is challenging here, from finding a job here-from the high rents and high cost of life,” he said.

Ahadi is anxiously waiting to find a job and earn an income. While he lived in Afghanistan, he worked as a contractor in the foodservice business.

Now, he wants to return to normalcy.

“I just want to get a job and get paid- that is all.”

He is confident the agency will help secure a good job.

If any businesses are interested in hiring the Afghans, they can contact Veronica Frescas through email:  veronica@elcalvarioumc.org

If you are interested in dropping off donations or becoming a volunteer, you can visit Trinity Church Hall at 801 North Mesa.