From Fear to Freedom: Ali and Fatima’s Journey with Bridge Builders

* Participant names have been changed for their safety. This interview was conducted by one of our volunteers.

When Ali and Fatima arrived in the United States, they carried little more than their newborn child,, their memories, and a deep hope for safety.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, their lives changed overnight. Ali had worked on construction projects supported by the U.S. Army, and as members of an Afghan minority, their family faced serious danger.

“We were pushed to leave our country,” Ali explains. “When the Taliban took over, we left Afghanistan and came to the U.S. The first time we arrived here, the important thing was that we felt safe all of the sudden.”

That feeling of safety was powerful, but it did not erase the challenges ahead.

Starting Over

“When we arrived here,” Fatima recalls, “we had problems with not having anywhere to live, not knowing the language, not having transportation- like to get to a doctor’s appointment.”

They had no local connections. No permanent place to stay. No roadmap for how to rebuild their lives.

That’s when they were connected to Bridge Builders Network (BBN).

A friend who had previously received support encouraged them to reach out. “Once I knew that,” Ali says, “there was no other choice to make.”

He still vividly remembers their first visit.

“I will never forget this time. They were very kind. The first time we came to BBN there was Mr. Dan, and he told us, ‘You should stay here and Bridge Builders will figure out if they can help you.’ We waited for Mr. David. We shared our circumstances, that we were from Afghanistan, and that we did not know anyone.”

Ali pauses before adding:

“If that day we had not been helped by Mr. David [through BBN supporters], me and my wife and my daughter would be living on the street.”

Instead, they were taken to a hotel that very day. In January. In the cold.

“It was so unbelievable for me,” Ali says. “I will never forget that day.”

More Than Housing: Encouragement

While housing was critical, it wasn’t the only support that made a difference.

“The important thing was encouragement,” Ali explains. “All day, the volunteers, everyone, they always encourage us. We were new here and we did not know anything, not even any rules. Every day they taught us, slowly, step by step.”

BBN volunteers helped with paperwork, connected them with free legal assistance, and walked alongside them through complicated systems.

“They help us in different ways,” Ali says. “They do a lot.”

But perhaps one of the most transformative moments came in a surprising way: driving lessons.

“Besides rent,” Ali says with a smile, “another thing was that my wife learned to drive. BBN taught her driving and now she can drive.”

Fatima lights up when she talks about it.

“When I was in Afghanistan, I never imagined that one day I could drive. Now I can drive, go anywhere. I am very happy!”

Driving didn’t just mean transportation. It meant independence.

“She can go shopping. She can take the baby to the hospital,” Ali says. “It takes pressure off of me.”

And it changed Fatima personally, too.

“When I was in Afghanistan, I was a little bit shy. I could not talk with men. After coming here and being a part of Bridge Builders, now I am very relaxed, and comfortable to talk to any man or woman. It doesn’t matter now,  it’s all the same.”

Growing Confidence, Growing Dreams

As stability grew, so did possibilities.

Ali now owns his own business- something he never imagined.

“When I got here I never even dreamed I would have my own business, and now I do, because of the BBN team.”

Their greatest hope, however, centers on their daughters.

“In our country there was no chance for my wife or my daughters,” Ali says. “No chance of working. No chance to go to school. I was worried about my daughter’s future and for my wife’s freedom.”

Fatima agrees. “I am hopeful about my daughters’ future, because they are safe here and they can go to school and get an education.”

For this family, safety is not abstract. It is deeply personal.

“We feel welcome in America,” Ali says. “All BBN members have kind behavior and help that is valuable to me. They are a big time help.”

Giving Back

Now that they are stable, Ali and Fatima want to do the same for others.

“As a human, I like to be a part of BBN and continue this way,” Ali says. “We already received the help and kindness from BBN, and I think it is my responsibility to continue this way. There was someone to help us, and now anything that I am able to do, it is my responsibility to help others.”

Supporting others “makes me feel good,” he adds simply.

He hopes more families will join.

“I hope for each family to join BBN, as we did, so they can be a part of BBN programs- be a part of this change. This change to continue this help for the next, next, next families.”

A Message to Supporters

When asked what he wants donors to understand, Ali offers a powerful image:

“We were like a person who was not able to walk, and with Bridge Builders’ help, their team held up our shoulders so that we could start walking again. And right now we are walking, we are working. It was because of their help.”

Then he adds what might have happened otherwise:

“If no one had helped me, I may have been on the corner of a street, sick, and not have the ability to work and support my family.”

Instead, today they are thriving.

To everyone involved, their message is simple:

“We really appreciate you all, and God bless you all. We still want you to pray for us to be a part of this change, to continue to help us help others.”

Fatima echoes the gratitude.

“I really appreciate all of you, and I pray that BBN helps everyone that needs help.”

Help More Families Walk Again

Ali and Fatima’s story is not unique. There are other families arriving with the same fears, the same uncertainty, and the same hope for safety and freedom.

Bridge Builders Network exists to meet families in those first critical moments. To provide support. To offer guidance. To encourage. To walk beside them until they are walking on their own.

With your support, more mothers can learn to drive. More fathers can start businesses. More daughters can go to school. More families can experience safety and hope.

If you believe in helping families stand again, we invite you to partner with us.

Your gift helps the next family take their first steps.