 | | | Ebne Mujadidi of E's Auto Service and Repair in Moraga hands car keys to an Afghan refugee. Photo provided | | | | | | Thanks to a donation of a car to Keeping Our Promise, East Bay - a local nonprofit that serves former U.S. military translators and their families from Afghanistan who resettle in Alameda and Contra Costa counties - one lucky Afghan refugee was recently handed keys to a car so he could get to work. Ebne Mujadidi of E's Auto Service and Repair on Canyon Road in Moraga, who is also from Afghanistan, donated his repair services to get the car "street worthy."
"We have structured our car program to offer cars to working refugees with the needed repairs paid for by the recipient in a 0% interest loan," said Carol Sebilia, the Education/ Employment Director of Keeping Our Promise, East Bay. "At a future time, when they feel they are sufficiently financially stable enough to repay, they pay back the loan and we have money for the next loan."
Keeping Our Promise tries to assist families by offering advice for employment, résumé writing, English language classes and tutoring, household donations and recycled adult bicycles, education and scholarship information, and more. "We simply see what their needs are, and see if we can meet the need," Sebilia said.
Two talented high school students, Selma and Nilab Ahmadi, also recently started a Keeping Our Promise club at Miramonte. "These energetic young sisters have recruited classmates to tutor afghan children aged 12 to 17," Sebilia said. "They tutor via Zoom in order to increase their grades in English, math and science, and offer homework help. This is been a wonderful support for Afghan parents who may not understand enough English to help their children with homework."
If anyone is interested in donating, email: CarolSebilia@KeepingOurPromise-Eastbay.org |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA