Good Neighbor

Janet and Olga’s journey began with a simple car ride but blossomed into a life-changing bond.
From school drop-offs to prom nights, Olga found love, strength, and opportunity for her Congolese family in their new life in Minnesota. Olga is determined to build a bright future for her family.

The last time Fareed, Sameera, and their two children embraced was to part ways amidst the chaos at Kabul airport in 2021. Fareed, a transport manager at Bagram Air Base,

Waiting for Peace in Syria, Policy Changes in the U.S. In search of safety amidst a civil war that erupted across Syria in 2012, Zaher found danger at every turn.

Habiba, a mother of two is arrives in Minnesota on her own in 2023, is proud of herself to have gotten to a place of self-sufficiency within one year, but mostly she is grateful for the support of her new friends.

Last February, a young boy from Afghanistan asked Sandy, his Good Neighbor volunteer, to explain a Valentine’s Day card to him. “I told him that we give cards to people

After welcoming an Afghan family in 2021 and forming a treasured friendship, long-time volunteer Ripley and a team from his church decided to walk alongside another refugee family this fall, meeting them on day one at the airport.

After a couple from Tajikistan converted to a Christian faith, a deep sense of intimidation happened to their family; photos of them flashed on the news as a warning of false teachers, stones were thrown through their windows, teachers bullied their children.

The team of volunteers from Roseville Covenant Church has been assisting the Congolese family as they navigate healthcare, finances, school, insurance, driving lessons, trips to the grocery store, learning English, plus introducing their new neighbors to fun first-time experiences.

Higher education is a big goal for refugees. That’s why it was such an exciting milestone on Armand Bashige’s 200th day in Minnesota when this Congolese young man was accepted

“When everything fell down, and the Taliban took over Kabul, I was in Afghanistan alone with my two daughters and it was very hard,” said Halima.