Noora’s Story

I was born in Afghanistan.  

Because I am a girl, I couldn’t go to school.  

I was married in Afghanistan when I was 14 years old. I might have been 15 or 16 but I can’t remember for sure.  

I am now 33 years old.  I have four children.  

My husband and his brother translated for the Americans and Canadians in Afghanistan.  The Taliban did not like this so they had to leave.  They have lived in Canada for the last 15 years.  

My husband was working on an application to bring me and our children to Canada but because of the emergency last year, my children and I were brought to America as part of an emergency evacuation.
I was not allowed to work in Afghanistan and because I wasn’t allowed to attend school, I cannot read or write my own language.  

When I came to America, I was very afraid.  I couldn’t speak the language and I didn’t know what to do.  I got lost often.  Everything was so different and I was alone.  I cried and cried for a long time every day.

Then I found Lighthouse Charities.  I have a job for the first time in my life.  I am learning to speak English and can read and write this language.  My children are going to school.  And I have a community and a work family where I belong.