Bree Yagana has been involved in helping refugees since she was a freshman in high school. That year she volunteered with International Rescue Committee (IRC) and began remote Zoom sessions with young refugees to help with homework, college preparation and cultural assimilation. Bree found this work satisfying but as a young Afghan American woman she was especially moved by the plight of Afghan refugees. She says, “I was concerned about the number of newly arrived Afghans, the shortage of staff at resettlement agencies, and the scarcity of resources to support refugees’ effective resettlement. I decided to extend my reach and impact by founding and directing my own English language and cultural assimilation program with the objective of easing the potential cultural shocks and language barriers for refugees. “

With the support of her parents, Bree posted on her local NextDoor.com website and invited new refugees to a class for cultural assimilation and learning English. As a result of this outreach, Bree now conducts a weekly class with a core group of 5 twentysomething young women with others joining periodically. Over time, Bree has found that the most helpful approach is to center each class discussion around a practical theme, such as grocery shopping, visiting a doctor’s office, or going for a job interview rather than teaching language and grammar per se. The classes have brought her joy and enduring friendships. Bree says: “My favorite part is forming a connection with these women and making friendships. I learn from them as much as they learn from me. They are incredibly strong and are trying to provide for families back in Afghanistan. They inspire me.” She and her family have made a commitment to these women to stay connected and help them in any way they can.

This winter, Bree also conducted a coat drive for Afghan refugees for the IRC. She and her mother placed boxes at local Starbucks in Sterling, Great Falls, and Reston. At the end of the drive, they had collected more than 100 coats.

In addition, Bree has recently completed the review process to become an ambassador for OneAfghanisan, a national organization devoted to helping Afghan refugees settle in the US. They recently raised money to give Afghan refugee children holiday gifts.

Bree is devoted to continuing work with Afghan refugees. She feels that her work contributes to “harmony within our community by ensuring that refugees learn English, find employment, and adjust to American culture, ultimately becoming responsible citizens. This will help prevent conflicts in our communities often caused by lack of effective assimilation and economic disequilibrium due to unemployment and poverty.”