“Amid a national driver shortage and demand for commercial driver’s license (CDL) certified candidates, Austin-based nonprofit Global Impact Initiative (Gii) and CapMetro have partnered on training and job opportunities for refugees and other marginalized community members.”

“Global Impact Initiative has 42 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, signed up for their new CDL training program that just launched this week.”

“As some long-time residents have been forced to relocate from Austin due to rising prices, a subsect of newcomers are struggling to gain access amid limited housing units and transportation access: Afghan refugees.”

“More than a year since the Afghanistan pullout crisis and less than a year since the war in Ukraine began, two Austin high school students have fundraised to help refugee families integrate in Central Texas. Yara Hussain and Stewart Haas, a senior and junior at Headwaters School, helped raise money to purchase sewing machines for four refugee families.”

“One Afghan refugee is sharing her story about her journey from Afghanistan and adjusting to life in the United States. Azita Jawady arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan four months ago. ‘It's a long journey for us because our life is in danger in Afghanistan,’ she said.”

“The Shulzhenko family was living in Kharkiv, near the Russian border. They said it got much too dangerous to stay. They've now lived in Central Texas since April.”

“On Aug. 16, 2021, Ahmad watched the Taliban march into his hometown in the province of Balkh over Facebook live­stream as his brother videoed the takeover from his apartment. It was night for Ahmad and his wife, Rachel, in Dallas. They asked WORLD to use pseudonyms because they’re concerned for the safety of family members still in Afghanistan.”

“Residents at one apartment complex in Round Rock [Texas] are dealing with busted pipes from the freezing weather. Some of those residents are refugees from Afghanistan and are dealing with this after escaping the Taliban. Multiple units at the Townhomes at Double Creek don't have water. Some flooded and still have water dripping.”

“Twenty-year-old Matiullah Noori huddles next to his brother and father on pastel patterned floor cushions. They’re on FaceTime with Matiullah’s uncle and baby cousin. Speaking Pashto into the phone, they raise their voices, trying to be heard from thousands of miles away.”