Better Understanding of Newcomers from Afghanistan and Beyond

This summer marked the end of a 10-month training course for Nebraska educators led by UNO’s Center for Afghanistan and Regional Studies. The program, called Afghan Refugee School Impact, helped to bridge the gap between newcomers from Afghanistan and Nebraska teachers, administrators, and other school personnel. A total of sixty participants representing Millard Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools, and Lincoln Public Schools participated in the course which included both in-person and online sessions. The purpose of the training was to enhance the capacity of schools to better serve newcomer Afghan students and families through expanding and strengthening opportunities for linguistic integration and education, providing welcoming schools and classrooms for Afghan students and their families, strengthening skills, knowledge, and competence of NDE staff for the benefit of Afghan refugee students, and enhancing the capacity and quality of existing programs that focus on Afghan refugees. The course consisted of five modules: The Refugee Experience, Cross-Cultural Understanding and Communication, The People of Afghanistan, Religious Practices of Afghans, and Professional Skills for Supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) and ELLs with Disabilities. Besides offering practical content on topics related to Afghan culture, the course covered topics related to general knowledge about refugees and the trauma of displacement as well as the stress of resettlement and acculturation. This broader knowledge was transferred to apply to other refugee populations. Thus, making a greater impact, not only for Afghans, but for people coming to Nebraska from many other parts of the world. The course provided an avenue for administrators, teachers, and school staff to have discussions, ask questions, problem solve, and collaborate regarding topics related to reaching out, supporting, and empowering Afghan refugee students and their families.

Quotes from Participating Educators:

“I am very glad that I had the opportunity to do this course. I learned so much and now I can better understand who I am teaching. I love sharing with Afghan families every day and getting to know all about their culture.”

“I feel like I’ve traveled a long road from where I started in my knowledge of Afghanistan and its people.”

“This has been an excellent course with great instructors!”

“It has been very helpful, and I especially appreciated hearing personal stories from the presenters.”