They get strength from us
Raghad Bushnaq, originally from Syria, founded Mozaic four years ago to help refugee families from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere get settled in the Washington DC area. She receives calls and texts 24/7 and is constantly dealing with crises and helping resolve problems, like fundraising for someone’s rent or sorting out mental health support. She and her team of volunteers help almost 200 refugee families. “If we don’t stand with them, who will,” she says.They get strength from us, and that keeps them going on. This kind of support, the psychological and mental support that we give them sometimes is more important than food and other kinds of aid. We try to keep some of them busy, just to get them out of their fear. This is the time that we are working even more hours; times five. Sometimes we work 15 hours, sometimes 18 hours.The feeling of insecurity now is just way more. One of the refugees I met last week to give him a meal, just looking at him I felt so heartbroken. He looked lost, it seemed like he’s falling into depression. I don’t know how to describe it; every time I think about him, my tears come out. He has a wife and three children. He has a degree in Syria; but the only job he could find here is in a bakery. He goes to work at 3am, comes back 2pm. Now his hours are cut, I’m sure he can’t even pay his rent. When I saw him, he broke my heart; he seriously looked so lost. Hopefully we can help him.I have to do this work. I love doing it. Seriously I have my own problems as well, but my problems are nothing when I see how people are suffering. It reminds me of the hadith, "Allah is at the need of His slave as long as he is at the need of his brother." Giving someone help is motivating. Life is going on, life is continual, so we have to do our best. If I can’t find solutions to my own problems, I can try and improve the quality of life for someone else. If Allah put me in this position, I have to do my best.Raghad is raising funds to set up a center where refugee and low income women and children in particular can come to get support, counseling, training and education. She’s setting up Mozaic Kitchen so refugees can hone their culinary skills, provide catering services, and earn an income. Please support her efforts even with a small donation through Mozaic’s Website or PayPal/Venmo: mozaic501c@gmail.com. To read all '30 reflections for our times', please follow the Facebook page '30 days 30 deeds', Instagram @salmahasanali, or subscribe to the newsletter at www.salmahasanali.com.PC: George Kolotov