Around 73,000 non-US citizens were evacuated from Afghanistan following the US withdrawal, with thousands still awaiting resettlement in their new country. Global Emergency Response and Assistance (GERA) has stepped in to support the efforts of the military task force, creating a coalition of 20 organisations to this end.
Co-founded by Valeria Gomez Palacios, GERA began as an effort to assist Syrian refugees in New Jersey, a state with an under-supported resettlement scheme. It helped resettle up to 200 Syrian refugees and, in 2017, developed a comprehensive programme to help them adapt to life in the US while maintaining their traditions. GERA’s ESL programme was modified to serve the particular needs of Arabic speakers and also included a community-building component, as well as after-school support for younger refugees.
Valeria attended the 2018 One Young World Summit at the Hague as part of the European Commission Peace Delegation, an experience that elevated her voice when advocating for the rights of Nicaraguan political prisoners. She has since become an active member of the One Young World Community while GERA is now affiliated with the UN’s Department of Global Communications.
GERA has provided the Afghan refugees with over 40 truckloads of essential household items. It has organised entertainment for them, including a barbecue and a concert for over 10,000 people on the base. GERA also supports refugee families who leave the base before completing the asylum process and who are therefore ineligible for government assistance. This includes wraparound services such as accommodation, groceries, and bedding for 30 families. The organisation successfully enrolled 25 Afghan children in local schools, hosted career fairs, and partnered with Pfizer to provide career advancement opportunities to refugees. The organisation has also connected Afghan nationals in Afghanistan and Pakistan with legal aid and hopes to restart its ESL programme for Afghan refugees in 2022.
“Introducing myself as a One Young World Peace Ambassador definitely opened doors to speak to Senators. I was able to talk to influential Senators to give my take. And a lot of that happened because I was like, you know what, I’m a One Young World Peace Ambassador, I’m going to give this a go.”
