Neighbors for Good

Bassam is a barber by trade and also owned a landscaping and tree care business.

Long before resettling in the U.S. with his family, Bassam learned the barbering trade and opened a salon in his homeland of Syria.

“After the war began, my family moved to Lebanon as refugees, where I also started barbering and landscaping businesses.”

Bassam is proud of his skills and dreams of contributing his entrepreneurial spirit in Minnesota. “I came with three skills: barbering, landscaping, and tree cutting.”

Refugees have skills to offer, we want to be productive here.”

His first year in America has had many challenges, but overall, it’s a dream come true.

I feel like I woke up from a nightmare. Here, I feel safe, and I have hope for the future.”

Zainab is a talented artist, chef, and musician who posts her creations on her TikTok account.

Bassam’s wife Zainab also brought her skills of cooking and painting that she hopes to use in America. As parents of seven children, the couple is determined to provide their children with a better life and education. “I want my kids to become doctors, accountants, or whatever they aspire to be. We raised them to be truthful and honest.”

Bassam and Zainab are grateful for the Arrive Ministries volunteers who formed a Good Neighbor team to walk alongside their family during their adjustment period.

They’ve helped with everything. They made life easier when we didn’t know where to start.”

Abby, a volunteer, shares her admiration for Bassam and Zainab’s resilience.

“They constantly amaze me with their resourcefulness. Many times, we came in to help, and they had already done research towards a solution or reached out to others that might be able to help.”

Abby recalls the times spent at their home, enjoying coffee, cooking meals together, and bonding over a shared sense of humor.

I am always delighted to join them in laughter! Their sense of humor carried them through some stressful times.”

“Zainab is an incredible cook, she always gives back by feeding us,” says Abby.

Abby fondly remembers an outing to buy flowers and seeds with Zainab, using a translation app to ‘ooh and ahh’ for hours. “She takes pride in making her home as beautiful as she can for her family. Our friendship really blossomed that day!” she says.

The Good Neighbor team has been integral in many ways, from helping Bassam open a bank account to assisting with rides to medical appointments and organizing documents. 

Most of the volunteers live nearby and play a crucial role in helping their new neighbors navigate this new chapter.

Bassam and Zainab’s journey in America is one of resilience, hope, and gratitude. Bassam expresses a heartfelt wish:

I hope every refugee finds people like these friends to help them through their first year.”