Afghan refugees in Atlanta receive federal funding for English classes

February 15th, 2023

Georgia State University's Perimeter College in Clarkston will administer classes for refugees through its community-based English program in the fall of 2023.

Alison Guillory / WABE

U.S. Congressman for Georgia Hank Johnson secured $400,000 for recent Afghan refugees to take English classes at Georgia State University.

In the year and a half, since the U.S. withdrew troops from Afghanistan, nearly 2,000 Afghans refugees fled to Georgia – largely in the metro Atlanta area.

“To offer the opportunity to enhance English as a second language, it’s going to have effects two, three, four generations down the line,” Johnson said. “We’re investing in our future.”

GSU’s Perimeter College in Clarkston will administer the classes through its community-based English program.

“It is so isolating to be in a country like ours and be surrounded by opportunities, and just your daily activities, but not be able to understand what’s going on around you,” said Hogai Nassery, a co-founder of the Afghan American Alliance of Georgia.

Nassery, who is a doctor, said understanding English is critical for refugee health because their quality of life is directly affected by their ability to thrive in the U.S.

The federal funding will pay for four hundred Afghan refugees to take classes.