Written by Hsiulien Chu
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
“Today, you see that the Tzu Chi Foundation helped a new arrival. They are Afghan refugees,” said Rabia Mudassir, who is from Afghanistan and was granted a U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) in September 2022. Mudassir has personally experienced Tzu Chi’s assistance, as her family was the first Afghan refugee family cared for by Tzu Chi USA Southern Region volunteers in Houston, Texas.
Today, Mudassir is a social worker at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, and thanks to her referral, Tzu Chi volunteers assisted two new Afghan immigrant families in July 2025. “As social workers, whenever we see that there’s an organization, a source that is helping people, especially refugees and newcomers, we are referring them to that source. So I refer my clients to the Tzu Chi Foundation,” she explained. Seeing Tzu Chi volunteers continue to assist her fellow Afghans, she feels deeply grateful. “As you see, they have been helped a lot by this foundation,” she said, reflecting on the assistance the two families received on July 3.
I do thank these volunteers from the Tzu Chi Foundation. They are serving humanity. They are helping people in need and I appreciate it. I hope that this continues for a long time and wish them all the best.
Emergency Relief Alleviates Hardship
New Afghan immigrant Amer urgently needed baby supplies and clothing around the time his latest child was born. Rabia Mudassir became aware of his case and referred the family to Tzu Chi, for which Amer is most thankful. “Rabia said to me, ‘I’ll find somebody to help you,’” he recounts. “She found Tzu Chi. Thank you. I appreciate you. I appreciate Rabia. She helped us.”
Amer, who is 40 years old, and his 33-year-old wife, Nazifa, have eight children. Despite Amer’s monthly income of $1,600 to $1,800, supporting such a large family has become difficult, especially with rising living costs.
Struggling to express himself in English, he explained, “I just pay the rent. Gas for the car. Insurance for the car. Cell phone. Internet. Not enough for me to go buy shoes…” The supplies and cash card from Tzu Chi alleviated some of the burden and helped him purchase clothing and necessities for the family home. Amer hopes that as his children grow up, attend school, and complete their education, they will help create a better future for the whole family.
Working Together to Restore Hope for Families
Tzu Chi volunteers also assisted another Afghan family: Ahmad and his wife, Storai, who arrived in the U.S. three months ago with their six children, ranging in age from two and a half to 13. Knowing that newly arrived immigrants often have nothing, the volunteers made every effort to gather resources and provide support.
Tzu Chi volunteer Jennifer An looked at the couple’s children with the same tenderness she would feel for her own grandchildren. “They just arrived with nothing. Now, without government assistance, they feel lost and don’t know what to do,” she shared. “We’re doing our best to help them and bring them some peace of mind.”
Shioubih Yang, who oversees home visits for Tzu Chi USA’s Southern Region volunteers in Houston, expressed gratitude for how everyone pools their efforts to help new immigrants settle in and ensures supplies are put to good use. “If someone was about to replace furniture or household items, we collected them for Ahmad and his family to use. The items are still in good condition; there’s no need to waste them.”
When the volunteers delivered a computer to Ahmad’s family, they initially thought both the computer and their existing TV were broken. Community volunteer Jatin Tekchandani Ruchel connected the devices to power and asked Yang to purchase a USB-to-HDMI cable. After that, both the TV and the computer worked perfectly, with the TV serving as a screen for the computer. “They can now watch anything from the computer on their TV, and they can enjoy it together. They can all enjoy programming from their own country,” Ruchel said, pleased to help, especially as part of a team effort.
Solving the problem together is more fun because I didn't do it alone, right? Someone purchased the computer. Someone purchased the operating system, and a third person purchased the cable. And then I just did the thing of plugging the two things together.
Clearing the Way for a Fresh Start
Tzu Chi volunteer Chuping Huang focused on Ahmad, who had yet to find a job. He should have been eligible for the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program through Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, but when the federal government canceled the subsidy, he was left struggling. Tzu Chi stepped in to help his family with utility bills and daily necessities.
We hope to help him, not necessarily with rent, but at least with some financial assistance so he can pay for utilities and have one less worry. We hope he’ll find a job soon and get back on track.
Vietnamese-Chinese volunteer Liju Hwang understands the challenges refugees face because her own family once received help. That’s why she is always happy to give back. She and her family collected clothes, bicycles, and other supplies, even if they were not a perfect fit. “At least they don’t have to spend money to buy these things, and when they finish using them, they can pass them on to other children,” she said. “I hope everyone can help one another.”
Afghan immigrants face language barriers, economic hardship, and the challenges of rebuilding their lives. Fortunately, they have Tzu Chi volunteers working quietly behind the scenes, offering care and practical support, building a bridge towards hope. Every batch of supplies is more than just practical help. It’s a reminder that “someone cares about you.” May every new immigrant find a way to bloom in this new place, and someday, pass that kindness forward.
You can be part of this circle of compassion and love. Join us in helping families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
