Welcoming Week is a time to celebrate the connections that help build welcoming communities where everyone can belong.
This year’s theme, The Courage to Connect, reminds us that reaching out and building connections can take courage, especially when everything around you is unfamiliar.
Nasima’s story is a powerful example of what that courage can make possible.
Nasima’s Story
When Nasima arrived in Pittsburgh from a remote village in Afghanistan, everything was unfamiliar. She had never attended school, learned to read or write, or navigated a city like Pittsburgh. Overwhelmed by her new surroundings, her first request was simple: “Please resettle us in a remote area.”
But Nasima found the courage to connect.
Hello Neighbor connected her with onsite English classes for newly arrived refugees, helping her build confidence and independence. When her husband began working and could no longer accompany her, transportation became a barrier to continuing her education.
So Hello Neighbor staff worked with Nasima one-on-one to learn Pittsburgh’s public transportation system. She is now learning to navigate a 1.5-hour journey from Carnegie to Hello Neighbor, bringing her two young children with her so she can continue attending English classes.
For Nasima, riding the bus is more than getting from one place to another. It’s a step toward independence, education, and connection to her new community.
Your support makes it all possible.
Nasima’s story is a reminder that connection takes courage, especially when everything around you is new. With the right support, one connection can open the door to confidence, independence, and belonging.
A gift to Hello Neighbor helps refugees and immigrants build those connections and overcome the barriers that stand between arriving and feeling at home.
This Welcoming Week, help us create more opportunities for our neighbors to connect, belong, and build a future in Pittsburgh.
