Afghan refugee finds success, pays it forward to new arrivals in U.S

RICHMOND, Va. — For Hamidullah Noori, each time brings a caller accidental to stock a portion of himself and his homeland successful a caller country.

“When I spot much radical coming in, I consciousness proud,” helium said. “Every greeting erstwhile I aftermath up, conscionable coming to work, is different time to service the community, different time to service your people.”

Chef Noori, arsenic he’s known, is the proprietor of “The Mantu,” a edifice specializing successful cuisine from Afghanistan. The edifice sanction means "me and you," and helium opened it successful Richmond, Virginia conscionable a fewer years ago.

After having worked with Americans successful Afghanistan, helium and his household were forced to fly the state successful 2015 connected a Special Immigrant Visa.

“We were threatened by a radical called the Taliban and we were not safe,” helium said.

Since 2001, astir 97,000 Afghan refugees person been resettled successful the U.S., with the pursuing states receiving the largest stock of them:

1. California
2. Texas
3. Virginia
4. Washington
5. Maryland
6. New York
7. Georgia
8. Arizona
9. Colorado
10. Missouri

When Chef Noori archetypal arrived successful Virginia, though, determination were fewer Afghans around. It was a pugnacious transition.

“We were wholly mislaid due to the fact that it's a wholly antithetic world,” helium said.

However, Chef Noori had a dream.

“My imagination was, erstwhile I came to the United States, was to amusement disconnected my skills and spot if I tin bring attraction of different people, to present Afghani culture,” helium said.

Working six days a week, successful 3 antithetic jobs, helium started redeeming money. He besides reached retired to resettlement agencies that initially helped him and offered his culinary services.

“'If immoderate refugees are coming from Afghanistan oregon if you guys person immoderate meetings astir the refugees, truthful fto maine know. I'll bring nutrient and cook,’” helium recalled telling them. “So, I utilized to navigator escaped nutrient for astir of these places without charging them anything.”

Soon, connection spread. The proprietor of the edifice wherever Chef Noori had been moving astatine the clip tried his food.

“He tasted the nutrient and said, ‘Wow, it's truly bully food,’” helium recalled. “And [he] said, ‘I deliberation I tin assistance you to execute your dream.’”

Through societal media, others besides stepped guardant to assistance put successful that dream— from helping with room instrumentality to adjacent creating signage for the restaurant.

“The radical of Richmond, arsenic soon arsenic I said, ‘I'm going to unfastened a restaurant,' and they enactment it successful a societal media. Every idiosyncratic came and supported me,” helium said.

Now, Chef Noori is paying it guardant by cooking nutrient for caller refugees present arriving from Afghanistan, letting them cognize they’re not alone.

“That’s the champion thing: to service your community, to service your people,” Chef Noori said, “and the champion happening would beryllium to service your culture.”