Arizona

Rescued Afghan Refugees & Unaccompanied Minors In Arizona Since 2021

We are seeking volunteer ukulele teachers for this program-- contact us if you're interested and live in the Phoenix area!

As the Taliban conducted their swift take-over of Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled for their lives.  A large group of refugees were being held temporarily in the Phoenix area as they awaited more permanent housing.

Until they were assigned a place to live, most were trapped in limbo with little to do. The men and women were not yet employed and the children had not started school. After just escaping the threat of violence, oppression and death, these families need a way to work through their trauma and need tools to begin life in the United States in a healthy, positive way.

Starting in the Fall of 2021, PTMI was able to quickly mobilize and provide a comprehensive Peace through Music program for these families up to four days a week for men, women, teens and children. The women’s classes especially were groundbreaking.  The women hesitated to learn something on their own without their husband’s presence or approval. But then a new sense of empowerment swept through the group, and the class exploded in popularity. Soon we were teaching over 25 women at a time.  

In 2024, this program served 3 communities of learners:

CLASS FOR NEW AMERICANS FROM AFGANISTAN:  PTMI provided a comprehensive ukulele class for New Americans from Afghanistan and other refugees in partnership with the refugee integration organization called Of One Heart.  This class met in person once per month for 1 hour, and met virtually via Zoom once per week.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS CLASS:   PTMI also provided a ukulele class for unaccompanied minors in partnership with Catholic Charities Community Services’ Unaccompanied Minors Program. Class was held occasionally in-person once during bi-monthly meetings, and was held virtually each week outside school hours.  We also provided a summer program for these youth in 2023.

AFTER-SCHOOL CLASS FOR YOUTH FROM AFGHANISTAN:  PTMI was asked by the IRC (International Rescue Committee) to provide a weekly ukulele class after school for a group of Afghan students living in a special apartment complex densely populated by refugees.  

QUOTES FROM STUDENTS:

"We were very depressed when we arrived in the US and we worried about what we should do and what our future would be. When you started the ukulele classes, it changed our mindset so we could stay away from depression and stress. Instead of thinking about the bad things, we were having fun and learning music and how to play the ukulele every day. It is very good for us. Our teachers are very good people and we have learned many things from them - English, ukulele, loving each other, humanity, and so much more."

"We have been sending pictures and videos to family and friends in Afghanistan of our music learning and the ukulele class. They love it and say it is very good that we are learning something new, because in Afghanistan it was almost impossible for women to learn music. Because of this class, we are all learning music and we each own a ukulele. It is such amazing fun for all of us!"