A day at the Georgia Aquarium for group of Afghan families living in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) – It has been practically one yr because the U.S. pulled American troops out of Afghanistan.

Most of the Afghan civilians who managed to flee are working to rebuild their lives right here in the USA. Some now name Georgia dwelling.

An outing to the Georgia Aquarium for a bunch of Afghan households Monday afternoon regarded like every other Summertime day journey. However the sightseeing journey to certainly one of Atlanta’s hottest vacationer locations was months within the making.

Moeen Amini, his spouse, two sons, and two nephews are new to the U.S. after fleeing their dwelling nation of Afghanistan final fall.

“We had been caught exterior the airport for 3 days. We couldn’t make it to get inside,” mentioned Amini.

Amini and his household had been among the many lots of of individuals dashing the Kabul Airport, desperately attempting to board a aircraft to security. Their determination to depart every little thing they knew got here because the Afghan authorities collapsed and the Taliban seized management of the nation. Amini and his household lastly made it out, making a number of stops alongside the way in which, earlier than ultimately arriving in Georgia.

“It began with one household final December. It’s grown to 4 households now,” mentioned Steve Lavene of Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs.

Members of the synagogue Congregation Or Hadash have been serving to the households resettled in Georgia. In all, there at the moment are 22 individuals who have resettled in Georgia from Afghanistan. A lot of them are youngsters and are Amini’s prolonged relations.

“It’s been a complete group of people that donated cash and furnishings and clothes,” mentioned Levene. “I believe all people as quickly as we introduced we had been doing this -we had enormous help from our synagogue. And I believe all of us really feel actually grateful that we are able to do that.”

Levene mentioned Monday’s journey to the aquarium was made attainable by a beneficiant Georgia Aquarium board member who donated tickets. Transportation was additionally donated.

In the meantime, Amini says not a day goes by that he and his household don’t miss the life they as soon as had in Afghanistan, however he says it’s not the identical nation it as soon as was. They’re grateful to have discovered a brand new dwelling right here in Georgia.

“We had no hope to dwell there. All we needed to hope was to depart the nation and keep elsewhere. Proper now, we’re residing the American dream. We’re right here,” mentioned Amini.

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