Press Release

UN Committee of New Canaan Supports Organizations Helping Afghans Enter and Resettle In the U.S.

Provides financial contributions for Afghans’ legal fees and resettlement programs in Connecticut; seeks donations from New Canaan residents to extend reach

NEW CANAAN, CT (December 23, 2021) –The UN Committee of New Canaan has announced its support of several non-profit organizations that are working to help Afghans escape Taliban retribution and rebuild their lives in the United States. The Committee is also seeking donations from New Canaan residents to expand its support and provide Afghans with pathways to visas and resources during resettlement.

“We have raised over $150,000 to help educate women and girls in Afghanistan. Today we seek to help Afghan families who are in danger and are looking for compassionate members of our community to join us in supporting this cause, says Christina Fagerstal, co-chair of the UN Committee of New Canaan, which has backed projects in Afghanistan communities and educated New Canaan residents about Afghanistan’s challenges through the New Canaan Library-sponsored speaker series.

Many of the Afghans seeking to resettle in the U.S. worked for international aid agencies during the war and have been threatened by the Taliban, which overtook Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, in August. These Afghans and their families, along with thousands of others, are now in hiding and hope reunite with family members in the U.S.

Currently, humanitarian parole is the only legal pathway that exists for Afghans to enter the U.S. San Francisco-based Pangea Legal Services is working with Afghan community organizers to pair volunteer legal workers with Afghans seeking humanitarian parole through The Afghan Network for Advocacy and Resources (ANAR) Project. New Canaan resident and attorney Alexis Brooks of Brooks Law, PLLC is part of a team of volunteers preparing humanitarian parole applications, and the UN Committee is raising funds to cover the $575 per-person application fee.

“We’re proud that Pangea Legal Services stands with the Afghan community—both in Afghanistan and in diaspora—in promoting access to migration through legal services and advocacy. Our work is not possible without the dedication and support of groups such as Brooks Law, PLLC and the UN Committee of New Canaan. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with local communities to help meet the demand for legal services from Afghans seeking asylum,” said Juliette Chisam-Majid, project coordinator at ANAR Project.

Members of the UN Committee have already donated funds to cover some applications. The Committee is also raising funds for organizations in Connecticut that help Afghan refugees rebuild their lives here, such as through ESL classes, bridging access to health care, promoting cross-cultural friendships, and providing home furnishings. Donations in the form of checks can be made to “The UN Committee of New Canaan,” earmarked to “Afghan Project” and mailed to Steve Orteig, Treasurer, UN Committee of New Canaan, 108 Bayberry Road New Canaan, CT 06840.

ABOUT THE UN COMMITTEE OF NEW CANAAN

The UN Committee of New Canaan was started in 1952 in response to President Eisenhower’s appeal to local communities to honor the US-UN relationship on the anniversary of the 1945 founding of the UN. The Committee presents speakers throughout the year on international topics. Recent talks were given by David Rohde on his kidnapping by the Taliban, by Ahmed Rashid on Afghanistan, and Margaret Catley-Carlson on Water. The Committee’s Aid Afghanistan School Project (2004-2008) was dedicated to funding a two-year “catch-up” school curriculum for Afghan girls denied access to education during the Taliban rule. For more information, please visit uncofnewcanaan.org.

ABOUT PANGEA LEGAL SERVICES

Pangea Legal Services operates as a non-profit organization. The Organization provides representation to immigrants in complex immigration and legal matters including asylum, cancellation of removal, and other forms of removal defense. Pangea Legal Services serves immigrants in the State of California. For more information, please visit https://www.pangealegal.org/

MEDIA CONTACT
Shekaiba Bennett
uncofnewcanaan@gmail.com