They founded a club to help Afghan refugees. 2 Fairfax Co. students has seen the company grow to welcome many others

In 2021, as thousands of Afghan refugees arrived in the United States, Meredith Hedrick, chair of the Multilingual Education Department at Annandale High School, reached out to students Sosan Barakzai and Husna Basiri.

Annandale High School graduate and Dunya Club co-founder Sosan Barakzai speaks at the June 3 graduation ceremony. (Courtesy of Fairfax County Schools)

Courtesy of Fairfax County Schools

Annandale High School graduate Husna Basiri receives her diploma from Principal Shawn DeRose. (Courtesy of Fairfax County Schools)

Courtesy of Fairfax County Schools

Members of the Dunya Club. (Courtesy of Husna Basiri)

Courtesy of Husna Basiri

Hendrick asked if the two, who are immigrants from Afghanistan, would be interested in helping start a club for students new to Fairfax County Schools like they once did. Hendrick told them they could help in a unique situation because they spoke the language and could relate to the experience of acclimating to a new environment.

These conversations led to the pair helping to launch the club, which was initially intended to help Afghan refugees. It started with about six students, they both say, but this year the number grew to 30. Barakzai and Basiri renamed it the “Dunya” club. The word means “world” in Persian, and they felt it was an appropriate title because the club hosted students from Pakistan, Ukraine, Russia and Central America.

Barakzai and Basiri have already graduated and plan to attend George Washington University in Washington next year. But the infrastructure they created at the club will remain, helping dozens of others adjust to life as a Virginia student.

“When you first came here, you really needed someone’s help,” Barakzai said. “People like me and Husna experienced how much we needed help. We wanted to give back. We wanted to do the same.”

Weekly Wednesday meetings have become a safe space for students to practice English. Students also help each other with homework or prepare for upcoming tests.

Because navigating a large school campus can be daunting for students who haven’t done it before, club members leave classes a few minutes early to help their peers find their next classes. They do this until students are able to move around the school buildings on their own.

The club also helps new students overcome other challenges, such as what type of food is served in the cafeteria and whether it is halal, and when the topic might involve talking to a school counselor.

“My favorite part of the club was that we had students from different backgrounds talking about culture, helping build relationships and maintain friendships,” Basiri said. “We organized cultural meetings, potlucks and parties for them. All students brought their own food.”

Initially, the group was created to help new students prepare for school. However, its purpose evolved and older members led conversations about how to apply for college or scholarships.

“While it seems easy to know how many credits you need to graduate, it seems easy to (choose) what degree you should get or how to find your grade point average, it is very difficult for students to find these things or even understand how to do it on a business e- mail,” Barakzai said.

The group also motivates new students to get involved in extracurricular activities. Hendrick, the department chair, used the grant funds to purchase cricket equipment so students could play after school.

Now that they’re graduating, the couple is making sure everyone has the skills to defend themselves.

“I realized from my own experience that asking questions can be very scary,” Barakzai said. “I let them know at the beginning that asking questions is the only way to develop your personality and achieve whatever you are passionate about in high school, college, or life.”

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