CRIS 30th Anniversary Story | Jasmine & Daria

Jasmine & Daria (pseudonyms) with CRIS staff member Caitlin Da Silva (center)

Jasmine and Daria (pseudonyms) first met as university students in Kabul, the capital of their home country. They quickly became close friends, bonded by their shared optimism, happy childhoods, and a strong desire to keep growing—personally and professionally. Jasmine pursued a degree in accounting and went on to work with USAID and later a government agency. Daria earned her degree in psychology and worked with USAID and later as the manager of an orphanage through a government agency. Life was full of promise.

But that promise began to dim as reports of the Taliban regaining control of rural areas spread. The tension in Kabul was rising. Then came the day neither of them will ever forget—the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to power. In an instant, everything changed.

Confined to their homes, Jasmine and Daria could only leave for rare, heavily monitored trips to the market. They were forced to adopt clothing and behaviors that felt alien to the lives they’d known. As former employees of organizations connected to the U.S. government, they were at particular risk. The Taliban was going door to door. They knew they had to leave.

Jasmine was the first to escape, joining her brother in Pakistan. Months later, Daria followed, reuniting with extended family there. There, they began the process of applying for Special Immigrant Visas to come to the United States.

In the fall of 2023—over two years after Kabul fell—Jasmine arrived in the U.S., greeted by CRIS staff. Daria joined her in Columbus just a few months later, and the friends were reunited once again. With help from CRIS, they moved into an apartment together, ready to face the next chapter side by side.

Starting over was far from easy. As young single women in a new country without close connections, they both felt a sense of fear about all of the unknowns. They also still carried with them fear generated by their experience in their home country and their journey into displacement. They spent their early months adjusting to life in Columbus, improving their English, and searching for work. They eventually found jobs together as cashiers.

Determined to become more independent, their next goal was to get driver’s licenses and save enough money to buy cars. They committed to walking to and from work each day to avoid costly transportation fees—and within several months, they’d each saved enough to buy a car of their own.

In the winter and spring of 2025, they began in-home English instruction with CRIS staff member Caitlin Da Silva. Twice a week, they gathered in their apartment for lessons that went beyond grammar. The curriculum covered essential skills like personal finance, civic engagement, and life in the U.S.—equipping them with the tools to thrive.

Today, Jasmine and Daria are still building their new lives, fueled by the same ambition that brought them to university years ago. Having already navigated many challenges, they have grown in confidence and independence. They dream of continuing their education and finding meaningful work in their fields.