Case study: Reunifying a family
All names have been changed along with some aspects of these case studies to maintain anonymity.
This is the case study of Najibullah and Farashthaah.
They were separated during Op Pitting as they were in different parts of Afghanistan due to the nature of their work when Kabul fell. Flights stopped before Farashthaah could get out. After many months she managed to get to Pakistan and into the care of the British High Commission for Visa processing.
While she was still in Pakistan a suitable flat for them became available in Wales. At the Gulab Sorkh Foundation we coordinated with the various entities so that Fawad was able to move into the flat and for Farashthaah to join him there when she got to the UK. It was in an area that wasn’t an obvious choice for settling, being further away from large cities and without an existing Afghan community. Our knowledge of the families, and their connections to each other, meant we were able to work with Team Wales to identify houses within relative proximity to other families they know. This, combined with their can-do attitude, has meant they have now integrated into their local neighbourhood whilst also creating their own Afghan support network with the other families.
Like with so many families in the UK at the minute they have struggled with the cost of living. It was initially hard for Fawad to find work, but his English was so good he often voluntarily interpreted for the local support workers. He ended up becoming invaluable and has since been offered a job with the Local Authority as an interpreter. He has also recently passed his UK driving licence opening up many more opportunities and giving them more freedom as a couple.
Najibullah and Farashthaah said
“We want to continue to build our life in the UK and we hope one day to have our own business.”