We’ve launched an Afghan Citizens Information Service to support people arriving in Scotland after fleeing the crisis in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of families and individuals have resettled in Scottish communities following the regime change in Afghanistan last summer.
People seeking safety in Scotland are often forced to flee their homes without warning, leaving family, friends, jobs and belongings behind. Adapting to life in a new country and culture can be really overwhelming.
The Afghan Citizens Information Service aims to help people feel more at home in their new homes and communities.
Our call handlers are fluent in Dari and Pashto and have personal experience of beginning new lives as refugees in Scotland. They can provide information and advice on everything from registering with the NHS, using public transport and navigating the supermarket to finding work and enrolling children at school.
Haza Gul Khalil, is one of our new information line call handlers: “I recently moved from Afghanistan to the UK with my family and have been settled in North Lanarkshire. At the beginning I was struggling because of a lack of information.
“I was searching for information that is helpful for Afghan citizens arriving in Scotland. For example, settling into our new home, registering with the NHS and finding a school for the children. Also understanding the transport system, finding Halal grocery shops and a mosque for worship.
“I am feeling grateful to be part of the team at Scottish Refugee Council which will be [providing] useful information for other newly resettled Afghans. I know what information they will be looking for and I am well prepared to provide a response.”
The service is for newly arrived Afghans who are looking for information, advice and practical support. It will also assist refugee-led and refugee-supporting organisations who are welcoming Afghans into their communities.
This project was made possible thanks to players of the National Lottery
