On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women in our communities and around the world. In this spirit, we celebrate the Afghan women of LSSNCA’s TEA Club. These women, forcibly displaced and resettled in our region, are working toward rebuilding their lives.
Bridging the Gap: The TEA Club’s Mission
Early employment and self-sufficiency are key goals of LSSNCA’s Refugee and Immigrant Services (RIS). However, the high cost of living in Northern Virginia presents significant financial challenges for many resettled families. For Afghan women, these challenges are further compounded by limited English proficiency, lack of employment skills, and cultural barriers that make workforce entry daunting. Recognizing this gap, LSSNCA launched the TEA Club to support Afghan women in overcoming these barriers by fostering positive integration and workforce readiness.
The TEA Club offers classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), women’s health education, financial literacy, and specialized workshops on driver’s education, employment readiness, and computer skills. Beyond learning, TEA Club provides a safe and welcoming environment where Afghan women can establish social networks and gain the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate life in the United States.
This month, we spoke with the members and staff of the TEA Club. Here are their stories.
Khadija*, a mother of four, recounts her journey from Afghanistan to the United States. In Afghanistan, her husband worked for the Ministry of Health and her brother-in-law was employed by the U.S. Embassy—positions that made their lives increasingly unsafe when the Taliban took over.
“We had a good life before the Taliban, but it was never safe. I took my kids to school myself because we were scared, they might be kidnapped,” she says.
When the Taliban took control, Khadija and her family went into hiding before managing to flee the country. “We were meant to board a flight to the U.S. but somehow ended up on a flight to Belgium,” she says with a laugh.
After spending two years in Europe, they finally were approved to come to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program.
“It was difficult for us in Belgium because we didn’t know the language, we didn't know anyone. But when we arrived in the U.S., it was better for us because we had people we knew here. My husband was able to find a job since he speaks English, so we adjusted very well.”
Determined to learn English and connect with women who had similar experiences, Khadija joined the TEA Club.
“I feel really good about TEA Club,” she says. “I learned how to communicate. I can go to the store now and buy groceries. I enjoy talking to my classmates. It’s a place where I feel connected.”
Khadija is hopeful for the opportunities and the life ahead.
“I am excited to be here. My kids get to go to school, my husband is working. I was not going to school or learning back in Afghanistan, so I’m very happy I can do that here. But most importantly, I’m happy my kids can go to school.”
Mina*, a mother of six daughters, describes how the program has transformed her daily life. When we began speaking, she asked if she could try speaking English without an interpreter.
“At first, I didn’t know any English. After going to TEA Club classes, I slowly learned. I can make doctor’s appointments, speak to my kids’ teachers. My TEA Club teachers made it easy for me to learn English. They taught me how to use a computer. I can send emails to my family by myself,” she shares.
Before joining the TEA Club, Mina relied on her husband for most things -- shopping, making doctor’s appointments, and communicating with her children’s teachers. She noticed the strain this put on her husband, who often had to miss work to take care of these responsibilities.
Mina shared that her family lived a good life before the Taliban. Her husband worked for an American company while she cared for their daughters. However, raising six daughters in a country where girls' education was not widely valued was a significant concern.
“When my kids went to school, I was never comfortable. It was very dangerous to send my daughters to school. Not everyone respected women’s and girls’ right to education,” she recalls.
Safety was another constant worry. “My husband had a good job; my daughters went to school. But it was never safe because the Taliban could come. There were explosions in schools and offices -- especially at the office where my husband worked because it was American,” she says.
Mina dreams of a different life for her daughters. Having married straight out of high school and never attending college, she hopes for a future where her daughters can pursue higher education.
“My daughters, I want them to graduate college, to become doctors, to go to medical school. This is my dream, but I pass it [on] to them. My first daughter is studying to become a teacher and works as a teacher assistant in childcare. My second daughter is attending GMU and wants to go to medical school,” she proudly shares.
Mina also found friendship and connection through the TEA Club, something she thought she had left behind in Afghanistan.
“The TEA Club is helpful because I made a lot of friends. I sometimes feel alone here. My family and friends are back home, but the TEA Club gives me friends. I talk to many women, and it is wonderful.”
Mina feels that for the Afghan women of the TEA Club, education is no longer out of reach—it is a reality they are actively shaping for themselves and their families.
“For Afghan women, I want to say: don’t stop. It might seem hard to go to college, we might think we are too old, that it is impossible to pursue our dream job. I say no. For me, I want to start my own business. I am independent, I am reading books, and I am learning. I am a very good cook. My family always says I am a good cook, and I want to own my own restaurant,” she shares.
For the TEA Club’s program coordinator, Mozhda, the work is deeply personal. Having joined LSSNCA in March 2024, she sees the program as a critical resource for Afghan women who are eager to learn and build a future for themselves.
“I feel so proud when I see someone learning even just one letter,” says Mozhda, an Afghan herself who resettled in the United States 2015. “Seeing them create a path for their future and making their lives better—it’s incredibly rewarding.”
A Growing Impact
Since March 2021, the TEA Club has grown from 60 to 180 participants, with plans to expand further. We offer four levels of English proficiency classes.
The club thrives thanks to our volunteers, partnerships with Hilltop Microfinance Initiative for financial literacy and small business workshops, and support from American Councils for International Education for ESL programs
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LSSNCA is facing significant financial challenges that threaten its ability to continue providing education, mentorship, and community-building opportunities to Afghan women and other resettled families. Without sustained funding, these critical programs may not be able to reach those who need them most. We need your support. Consider donating today Donate Today | Families & Children in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia
* Pseudonyms names are applied to protect the privacy of program participants.
