Viet4Afghans links Vietnamese with Afghan refugees

Since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, there has been considerable news and editorial analysis of the parallels between the forever war and Vietnam. The connection is not lost on Vietnamese refugees who have mobilized to assist Afghan families with their resettlement in the U.S.

Viets4Afghans is a nonprofit founded by Uyen Nguyen in Seattle, who immigrated to the US during the fall of Saigon, and it recruits Vietnamese American families to host Afghan refugees in the Seattle area.  In recognition of 1975, the year Saigon fell, the founder initially sought to enlist 75 families to help host famlies, organize fundraisers, and engage in political advocacy.  They exceeded that initial goal and garnered coverage in a touching N.Y. Times story that describes the many tasks involved in refugee resettlement: offering a place to sleep or collecting donations to furnish independent housing, providing meals, assisting with job hunting and job training, practicing English language skills and literacy, and otherwise making newcomers feel welcome. Larger organizations like Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Catholic Charities, and YMCA International also report Vietnamese and other former refugees volunteering to help. 

MHC