Safia, an Afghan refugee, navigates the challenges of adapting to life in Houston while pursuing her dream of working in childcare, highlighting the broader issues of refugee support and the childcare crisis in the U.S.
Safia is one of the 50,500 Afghan refugees who have been admitted to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. This initiative was established by Congress to assist Afghans who worked for the U.S. government abroad. A college-educated math teacher, Safia is currently not licensed to teach in the United States. To further her career, she applied for a childcare training and licensing class at the ECDC – Houston Multicultural Center.
“In order to speed up this self-sufficiency goal, it takes everyone in the household working,” said Earlene Leverett, the former manager of the program. “Employers are finally realizing the impact that childcare has on the economy. Businesses have jobs, they need employees to fill those jobs, and those employees need childcare.”
Safia’s family had a stable life in Afghanistan. She earned a college degree and taught math at an elementary school in Kabul, while her husband worked as an electrical engineer. They had three children and seemed to be thriving.
However, her husband’s 17-year employment with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) placed the family in jeopardy when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. He was placed on a death list, which put the entire family at risk.
Eventually, Safia’s family found refuge in Houston. While they are safe, they face significant economic challenges. The process of obtaining licensure to work in their respective professions in the U.S. can take years. Currently, her husband works at a lower-level job in an electronics company, and Safia has found only a low-paying position as a helper at a childcare center far from home. Without reliable transportation, commuting to work has become a significant hurdle.
“I worked one year in pre-K in Afghanistan,” Safia shared. “I love working with children.” She discovered a free childcare training and licensing class at the ECDC – Houston Multicultural Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting refugees and immigrants. Unfortunately, due to funding restrictions, the course was only available to Afghan refugees who arrived in the U.S. between 2021 and 2023, while Safia arrived in 2024.
Earlene Leverett, who managed the ECDC childcare training program for a decade, has witnessed the transformative impact it has on both refugees and the broader community. “Childcare is in crisis,” she noted. “Employers are finally realizing the impact that childcare has on the economy. Businesses have jobs, they need employees to fill those jobs, and those employees need childcare.”
During her tenure, Leverett estimates that between 350 and 400 immigrants graduated from the one-year program. Some graduates opened their own childcare businesses, providing options for parents who might otherwise struggle to find care. Most went on to secure employment at existing daycare centers, which often face staffing shortages.
“It’s a win for everyone,” Leverett explained. Parents who are already home with young children—most often mothers—can “add substantially to the household income.” This is especially beneficial for immigrant mothers who may prefer childcare providers with a similar cultural background. Employers, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on immigrant labor, such as hospitality and healthcare, can access the workforce they need.
The U.S. government offers limited financial assistance to refugees upon their arrival, but this support diminishes quickly. Nonprofits and community organizations step in with language classes and job training, aiming to help refugees achieve self-sufficiency within six months.
“In order to speed up this self-sufficiency goal, it takes everyone in the household working,” Leverett reiterated. “When there is no childcare available to employees, it becomes a huge economic issue.”
Leverett, who operated her own daycare centers in Texas for 16 years, noted that immigrants have always played a vital role in the childcare industry as employees.
Providing training for refugees like Safia to obtain childcare licenses is effective, Leverett said. “We saw the difference it made in the community. Employment was one of the key needs.”
Currently, Safia is focused on improving her English skills and finding an affordable program that will help her obtain a license to open her own childcare facility. “I like children, I’m patient with children,” she expressed. “I really want to improve in this field and work with children.”
As Safia navigates her new life in Houston, her story underscores the challenges faced by many refugees and the critical need for support systems that enable them to thrive in their new communities.
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