After the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan in August of 2021, Ahmad’s decades-long career in development and education—where he worked as a researcher and field coordinator with international organizations like the United States Institute of Peace and World Bank—was perceived as a threat by the Taliban. Ahmad faced a critical decision: stay in his country, risking his life and the safety of his family, or leave everything behind and start over.
“I had a very happy life in Afghanistan because I helped my people. I was threatened by the Taliban troops, so I escaped from one place to another.”
Ahmad’s decision to protect his family meant more than just leaving behind his homes, cars, and the comforts they knew. It meant giving up everything had worked so hard to build and confronting an uncertain future. For nearly two years, Ahmad lived in constant fear of arrest and was unable to support his family due living life on the run. After fleeing to Iran, Brazil, and Mexico, he eventually arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border, where he was granted asylum.
Upon arriving to Dallas in late 2023, Ahmad faced more hardship. For a year, he walked two hours one way to get to his restaurant cleaning job. With the summer weather getting dangerously hot and his circumstances not improving, he made the decision to start fresh in Los Angeles.
“When I came to the United States, everything was changed for me. I began not from zero, but under zero.”
After two fearful and uncertain nights sleeping in the airport, Ahmad made his way to Downtown Los Angeles. He recalls, “I saw many people homeless, so I was scared about this situation.” Determined to avoid the same fate, he approached a street maintenance worker employed by Chrysalis who recommended our program.
Right away, Ahmad was connected to an employment specialist who was invested in his wellbeing and success. Ahmad was provided transportation assistance to and from our center while he completed our core job-readiness classes. He eagerly attended resume-writing and practice interview sessions with volunteers and received funding for and guidance on obtaining his ID and Driver’s License—essential steps to securing employment. Throughout this process, Chrysalis also provided him with rental assistance for his recently-secured apartment. He explains that all of these different supports helped to ensure a crucial level of stability while he worked toward securing steady employment.
After Chrysalis referred him to a program to secure his guard card, Ahmad landed a full-time job in security!
“When I got the guard card, I got the job. This means that Chrysalis changed my life. Nobody helped me. Chrysalis helped me. For me, it was like a family.”
Today, Ahmad is no longer in survival mode, he is beginning to thrive. With stable employment—sometimes working up to 50 hours a week earning overtime—he was able to secure a vehicle and has enough income to support himself and send resources back to his family in Afghanistan.
And he’s just getting started. While he navigates the immigration process to bring his family to the U.S., he also aspires to attend trade school so he can start his own business. Eventually, he hopes to employ others who, like him, are laying their own path to stability.
“Now that I am working, I remember those experiences. And those hard days push me to go further and further. I never want to experience those days again.”
Ahmad’s journey is one of profound sacrifice and strength, and we are inspired by his bravery in the face of such uncertainty and hardship. His story serves as a powerful reminder that, even if someone has built a successful career and fulfilling life, rebuilding from zero is nearly impossible to navigate alone—and Chrysalis is committed to making sure that no one has to.
It is an honor for Chrysalis to have played a part in helping Ahmad lay the foundation for a brighter future—one where he can begin to realize his dreams for himself and his family. We remain committed to standing by his side every step of the way as he continues to build the life he aspires to lead.