Fabrangen supports immigrant families
Fabrangen is working with the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) to provide support for refugees families. We are currently working with an Eritrean refugee family of four who arrived at the very beginning of the Covid pandemic.
It is almost five years since Fabrangen’s Refugee Committee first greeted the Gebreyohanes Family – mom Zufan and her three daughters Miliyen (then age 18), Helen (16) and Aranshi/aka Eliana (12). The family had fled Eritrea, and recently arrived in the Washington, DC area from Ethiopia, where they had been in a refugee camp for the previous seven years.
Fabrangen’s Refugee Committee was introduced to the Gebreyohanes family through the First Family program of the Ethiopian Community Development Center (ECDC) which was the family’s sponsoring agency for their December 2019 arrival in the US. Unfortunately, the onset of Covid in February 2020 seriously complicated schooling, becoming familiar with American life and learning English. Fabrangen was able to help in a variety of ways – with tutoring, English lessons, providing three laptops, financial support when illness affected earning income, arranging medical appointments and transportation, helping with social service needs, among other things.
In five years, the family has learned much about American life as they have moved forward with their goals. – Zufan’s work involves processing and packaging food in preparation for sale. Her day is long, being gone from home 12-13 hours daily. Miliyen (now 23) and Helen (21) graduated from the International High School in Langley Park. They are pursuing study through Prince Georges Community College. Both have driver’s licenses and cars, and contribute to the family’s needs. Eliana (17) is in 11th grade, and looking ahead to college. In addition to being on the Honor Roll, she is very active in school life – as president of her class, captain of the varsity soccer team and serving on the student council.
As we have come to know the wonderful Gebreyohanes family we have seen how learning takes place in many directions – among other things we’ve gotten know and enjoy much about Eritrea, the customs, the food (delicious!), music and a good deal more.
Please support Fabrangen’s First Friends efforts by providing financial support.
For more information, please contact Doris Hamburg at FirstFriends@fabrangen.org.