Huge effort in DeKalb County to help Afghan evacuees find work

Mohammad Khan says it all happened so quickly.

“You’re sleeping in the night. You wake up in the morning, and the entire thing has changed,” Khan said.

Almost all of the 200 people in a crowded room at the Clarkston Community Center went through the same thing.

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“It was tough. Most of the people left everything behind,” Khan said.

They are all from Afghanistan. They escaped the return of the Taliban, and are now living in DeKalb County. At a job fair just for them, they’re looking for work.

“I called my human resources director. We’re sending a team over this afternoon. We have a labor shortage,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said.

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Two dozen metro-area companies sent representatives. Organizers provided translators, resume writers and even child care. Moeen Amini came to the U.S. nine months ago. He’s now a recruiter for a local business.

“They have good jobs here. Opportunities here. That’s what they want,” Amini said.

That’s what Mohammad Khan wanted. He’s grateful that he and his family are here.

“No one is saying he’s going to go back. Everybody wants to stay here and continue this life in America,” Khan said.

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