Photos: Previous Afghan immigrants find community in ºüÀêÊÓƵ
From homes to jobs to education to places of worship, newly arriving Afghan refugees will need it all as they seek to set up living here in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. we visited past immigrants and refugees to see what stories of resettlement they have to share.Â
Photos by Robert Cohen, Christian Gooden, and Daniel Shular/Post-Dispatch staff
More Afghan refugees could settle in ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Amir Habibollah, 55, makes chapati bread at his Afghan Bread House in Tower Grove South on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. Habibollah immigrated to ºüÀêÊÓƵ in 1984. After working a variety of jobs, he opened his business as the only Afghan bread bakery in Missouri. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
More Afghan refugees could settle in ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Amir Habibollah, 55, left, makes chapati bread alongside recently arrived immigrant Ajmal Ahngar, 41, at his Afghan Bread House in Tower Grove South on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. Ahngar said he was a soldier in the Afghan army working alongside U.S. forces when he immigrated to ºüÀêÊÓƵ in October, 2019, leaving behind his parents and three brothers in Kabul. Habibollah came in 1984. After working a variety of jobs, he opened his business as the only Afghan bread bakery in Missouri. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
A place for prayer in Dutchtown
Syed Abdali, the imam at the Resalat Community Center masjid in Dutchtown, leads men in sunset prayers on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. Abdali immigrated from Afghanistan to ºüÀêÊÓƵ in 2000, followed three months later by his father Syed Ibrahim Abdali, at right. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com.
A place for prayer in Dutchtown
Syed Abdali, the imam at the Resalat Community Center masjid in Dutchtown, leads men in sunset prayers on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. Abdali immigrated from Afghanistan to ºüÀêÊÓƵ in 2000, followed three months later by his father Syed Ibrahim Abdali, at center. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com.
A place for prayer in Dutchtown
Syed Abdali, the imam at the Resalat Community Center masjid in Dutchtown, greets his father Syed Ibrahim Abdali following sunset prayers on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. Abdali immigrated from Afghanistan to ºüÀêÊÓƵ in 2000, followed three months later by his father. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com.
Watch now: International Institute prepares for influx of Afghan refugees
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteer Cathy Fisher of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, gathers items for a two-person household on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, from a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bedding, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteers Katie Eigon, center of Maplewood and her sister Lucie Springmeyer, left, of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, open and sort a box of bedding items on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, in a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Kitchen appliances and other materials sit sorted and stored on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, in a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bedding bathroom necessities, and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteer Marianne Baer of Glendale takes inventory of a pile of bedding on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, in a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteer Chris Bradburn of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, moves vacuum cleaners from the parking lot to a gym full of other donations on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bedding, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteers sort and organize a gym full of donated items on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area.
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Cleaning and cooking items sit sorted and stored on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, in a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepared to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area.Â
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Toys and sporting equipment sit sorted and stored on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, in a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of cleaning materials, bedding, clothing, bathroom necessities, and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteers Amy Conard, bottom, of Chesterfield and Marianne Baer of Glendale gather household items on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, from a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bedding, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteer Cathy Fisher of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, gathers items for a two-person household on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, from a gym full of donations at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bedding, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
International Institute preps for wave of Afghan refugees
Volunteer Chris Bradburn of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, moves vacuum cleaners from the parking lot to a gym full of other donations on Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021, at the International Institute of ºüÀêÊÓƵ as it prepares to receive a wave of refugees from Afghanistan to the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area. The non-profit organization has been inundated with tons of toys, sports equipment, clothing, bedding, bathroom necessities, cleaning, cooking and kitchen items for families evacuated from their home country after the U.S. ended its 20-year military campaign there. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Fahima Band Ali at Webster University
Webster University sophomore Fahima Band Ali, left, speaks during a practice session for the Forensic and Debate Club as Webster graduate John Wallis take notes on her points in Webster Groves on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Band Ali immigrated to the United States from Kabul, Afghanistan in 2017. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Fahima Band Ali at Webster University
Webster University sophomore Fahima Band Ali writes down notes before a practice debate for the Forensic and Debate Club in Webster Groves on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Band Ali immigrated to the United States from Kabul, Afghanistan in 2017. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Fahima Band Ali at Webster University
Webster University sophomore Fahima Band Ali, right, debates her opponent, Webster junior Garret Dohlke, left, during a practice session for the Forensic and Debate Club in Webster Groves on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Band Ali immigrated to the United States from Kabul, Afghanistan in 2017. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Fahima Band Ali at Webster University
Webster University sophomore Fahima Band Ali walks from the Webster University Library to the Sverdrup Building for Forensic and Debate Club practice in Webster Groves on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Band Ali immigrated to the United States from Kabul, Afghanistan in 2017. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Staff Photographer
Christian Gooden
Photographer
Daniel Shular
Photographer
Time will tell if the record wave of Afghan refugees fit in here or move on to a better place.
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