Imran Haider, a native of Afghanistan, has a wife, three kids, and an alluring accent.

Like many refugees, Imran was serving as an aid to U.S. Special Forces when he became the target of death threats.

“I was working with the Americans, and many people there don’t like Americans,” he shares bluntly. Left with the choice of living under continual threat or leaving the only life they knew, Imran and his wife applied for special immigrant visas to the U.S.

The family landed on January 11th of this year, thrown into a new culture, heavy with turmoil surrounding Trump’s inauguration, and the policy changes that would come with, scheduled for the following week.

“My heart was heavy when I was coming here,” Imran remembers, “[but] I did what I had to do to protect my family.”

The displaced five took up residence in Clarkston, Georgia, named “the Ellis Island of the South”, with refugees making up an estimated 50% of its population. Refugees like Imran are granted 60-90 days assistance from a resettlement organization, and time was ticking. After securing resources and affordable housing, Imran quickly turned his focus towards finding employment, a crucial hurdle in every refugee’s journey.

His friend, Reva, told him about a local staffing agency who worked exclusively with refugees, helping them secure steady and well-paying employment —Amplio.

“My experience with Amplio was very good. Chris is a very nice guy, and Luke and Sana,” he raves, adding that anytime he showed up the team never turned him away, but were always eager to serve him.

Within a week of his first visit to Amplio, Imran was placed with Accessories Unlimited, a local company that distributes specialty products in the commercial construction industry. Together, He and a small but impressive team install everything from bathroom accessories in hospitals, to lockers for local sports teams, and seemingly everything in between.

“I like my job. We travel everywhere. Every day we are in different places. We go very far sometimes [and] see different cities inside Georgia,” Haider shares, excitedly.

 

But Accessories Unlimited has given Imran far more than travel and valuable job experience—they’ve given him and his family a foundation, security, and hope for a better life.

“They have a car now,” Amplio CEO Chris Chancey shares, bragging on Imran’s accomplishments. “It’s been really cool to see how his English fluency has increased over the past three months since he started the job,” he adds, “The fact that he could carry on this interview] is a testament to how far he’s come.”

Imran’s proudest accomplishment? “I’m learning every day,” he states, “It’s good for me. It’s helping a lot.”

Imran is like many other refugees— educated, hard working, and grateful for the freedom to live without the constant threat of harm.

“We are human like everybody else,” Imran expresses, vehemently, “It doesn’t matter if we’re American, Asian, or African. We’re all human.”

All human. Refugees aren’t looking for a handout, they’re looking for basic human rights—the opportunity to live, love, and pursue happiness.

What doors of opportunity could your business unlock for a refugee to provide for their family, and pursue their potential?

We, at Amplio, are passionate about mutual partnership—your business and refugees thriving. Let us find a fit for your labor shortage needs. To learn more about the benefits of hiring refugees, visit our website at www.ampliorecruiting.com