Staff Spotlight | Farid Ludin

Farid Ludin is a caseworker and school liaison with CRIS’ youth mentorship program, Community Connectors.

“Even as a boy, I had a strong internal drive and a bold vision for my future. When I graduated high school in 2010, I moved from my hometown in Nangarhār to Kabul to prepare for University entrance exams and apply for exclusive scholarship programs. After months of rigorous study and interviews, I was granted the opportunity of a lifetime: a prestigious, fully-funded scholarship to an Indian University. During my time abroad, I studied business and financial accounting with the goal of returning to Kabul after graduation to work in the Afghan government. 

After graduation, I served as an ISAF supervisor in Paktia. In 2017 I started my career in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. There, I worked as a project manager, collaborating with UN Agencies to promote poverty reduction, human rights, and child protection efforts across five provinces. During this time, I gained experience managing teams of people, communicating with a wide range of audiences, and working in a volatile environment. Despite the challenges, this role affirmed my desire to improve the lives of my fellow Afghans.

Unfortunately, my time in the Afghan government came to an abrupt end with the collapse in 2021, and I fled the country in the wake of the political upheaval. After a month of screenings, travel, and waiting on paperwork, I arrived in Ohio. My aunt, a longtime Columbus resident and veteran of the US military, met me at the airport and helped me adjust to my new home. Resettling was a challenging process, but I consider myself fortunate: I had family here to support me and I enjoyed a relatively short waiting period. 

Once I established myself in Columbus, I began searching for my path forward in the United States. My dreams of working with nonprofits and the government to help vulnerable Afghans were impossible, given the circumstances, and while I still wanted to help others, I wasn’t sure how. It wasn’t until I started volunteering at another refugee resettlement agency that I realized my original dream was still within reach. Though I may not be working in Afghanistan, or with the Afghan government, I can still work to improve the lives of Afghans—by supporting them during their resettlement to the United States.

I was fortunate to have a family member there to help me during my arrival, and I want to make sure that all refugees feel supported during their resettlement. I am proud to work at CRIS, an organization that deeply cares about its clients and treats them with respect and kindness. This agency is a second home for refugees and a place where they can receive assistance for acute needs and long-term struggles. 

In my work as a caseworker and school liaison with CRIS Community Connectors, I largely focus on supporting families with school enrollment, mentorship programs, and accessing English language resources for adults. I attend school meetings, help families navigate the education system, and ease the transition for refugee children as much as possible. My favorite moments are when I introduce mentors to families for the first time—seeing the beginnings of a meaningful relationship for both the mentor and mentee is a special experience. My work makes a tangible impact on my clients’ lives and I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue my old dream in my new home.”