Happy August!

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. In this newsletter, we highlight the work we've been doing to support Afghan families in Maryland and share stories of some people who make our mission possible.

There are many opportunities to connect with us in the community and get more involved. Thank you for your continued involvement and support!

Madiha's Story

As we reach the two-year mark since the Taliban assumed control in Afghanistan, we share the story of Madiha Rahimi, our Finance Assistant.

Madiha stands among the thousands of Afghan women who, driven by the pursuit of peace, security, and women's rights, departed their homeland seeking refuge.

Madiha comes from a family of Afghani doctors, lawyers, and engineers. In 2018, she received her bachelor's degree in civil engineering. She worked for the US government on economic empowerment initiatives for women.

In the summer of 2021, when the Taliban seized power, Madiha knew that her work with the US government and international organizations meant she had to flee.

Read Her Story

Computer Donations

A heartfelt thanks to the Making Change Center and our amazing volunteer Sujata Rana for their generous donation of six laptops to Afghan families residing in a hotel in Frederick.

With access to technology, new doors of opportunity open: English classes, job applications and even driver's license education programs.

There is always a need for laptops. Please email us at info@beluminus.org if you want to donate.

Volunteer Spotlight

Aftab Ali remembers the challenges his family, who immigrated from South America to Canada, faced as immigrants trying to integrate into a new country. After moving to the United States as an adult, Aftab recognized that “we’re a country of immigrants, some of us are just newer immigrants.”

This experience shaped Aftab’s view of the world, motivating him to volunteer in a place that welcomed and empowered those newer immigrants. Aftab was initially drawn to Luminus’s mission and work with Afghan immigrants. “A lot of people were brought here not by choice but by circumstance and it tears your heart to just sit back and watch the challenges ahead of them. I want to be able to help, in whatever way I can.”

Having worked in Information Technology for over 25 years and in the cybersecurity field for the last 10, Aftab was well positioned to work as a career mentor.

Driving Prep Classes

Thanks to our incredible volunteer and former driving instructor, Sandy Lundahl, we completed 6 Permit Test Prep Classes for Afghan women in Baltimore City.

Afghan women encounter several barriers to getting a license, including low literacy rates, limited access to childcare, and unreliable transportation. We're dedicated to breaking down these obstacles by providing Dari and Pashto interpretation, coordinating activities for kids, and offering roundtrip transportation.

The Afghan women are thrilled about the prospect of driving and the independence it will bring to their lives. Our next goal is to sponsor driver's licenses and MVA-certified interpreters for most of them. Your support can make an even bigger difference! Please join us in empowering these women to achieve self-reliance and newfound independence by fully or partially sponsoring their Maryland driver's license.

Click here to be a sponsor

Housing Program Wrap-Up

Client Testimonial:

Emilios' Story

The Bonillas were one of the 398 families who received funds through Luminus's emergency rental assistance program.

Emilio Bonilla* moved from El Salvador to Elkridge, Maryland with his wife and five children. In February of 2020, Bonilla was successfully working in maintenance.

However, Bonilla was an hourly worker and not on the company’s payroll. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, there was little maintenance work available. As Bonilla’s hours dried up, it became increasingly difficult for him to pay rent. Soon, Bonilla found himself several months behind on rent.

While the American economy was continuing to recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic, many people faced deep rental debt and feared eviction. Luminus received emergency state and federal funds to help families who were late on rent payments or received eviction notices due to COVID-19-related income or job loss.

Over the 35 months the program was funded, Luminus distributed more than $2.6 million to help 398 families stay in their homes. We are grateful to the Howard County Housing Development Office, the Maryland state government, and the U.S. Department of Treasury for making this program possible.

Luminus in the Community

August 31: Back-2-School Night

6pm - 8pm

Wilde Lake High School

September 12: HCC Dragon Connection Fair

12pm - 2pm

Howard Community College

September 14: Back-2-School Night

6pm - 7:30pm

North Glen Elementary School

September 9 & 16: Financial Education workshop in Spanish

10am - 12pm

Elkridge Public Library

September 23 & 30: Financial Education workshop in English

10am - 12pm

Elkridge Public Library

Book Recommendation of the Month

From Shakiba Ibrahimkhail, our network specialist

I just finished reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini, and it left me speechless. The book takes you into the lives of two strong women, Mariam and Laila, in Afghanistan's challenging times.

Hosseini's writing is amazing—it pulls you right into Kabul, making everything come alive. The connection between Mariam and Laila is really touching and shows their incredible strength. Even though the backdrop is tough, the story's also about love and friendship getting you through anything. I was hooked, always wanting to know what's coming next.

To put it simply, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is a book that's stuck in my mind. If you're after a read that's both engaging and heartfelt, I highly recommend picking this up!