Mujtaba Karimi looks around while studying in Criss Library at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Monday. A former government official in Afghanistan, Karimi fled the country as a refugee in August 2021 when the Taliban took over.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Mujtaba Karimi walks across campus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Monday.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Mujtaba Karimi studies in Criss Library on campus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Monday. Karimi often studies in the library until midnight as he works toward his goal of passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam in order to attend Harvard University. Karimi earned two college degrees in his home country of Afghanistan. He would like to study political science before returning to Afghanistan to become a leader.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Mujtaba Karimi (second from left) shakes hands with Fidel Mokeba of the Democratic Republic of Congo while joking around with Nabila Safari of Afghanistan (from left), Moses Kasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Harouna Nakanabo of Burkina Faso during a break in their intermediate reading, writing and grammar ESL class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Mujtaba Karimi rubs his eyes during his intermediate reading, writing and grammar ESL class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Kubra Haidari, a case manager at the Refugee Empowerment Center (right) leans in to clarify part of her lesson for Asma Lalzada (from left), Latifa Noor and Zarmina Amani while teaching driver's education to a class of refugee women from Afghanistan on Wednesday in Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Kubra Haidari, a case manager at the Refugee Empowerment Center (REC) (right) mimes “stop” while teaching a class of refugee women from Afghanistan how to drive Wednesday in Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Layla Sultani (right), a refugee from Afghanistan, smiles alongside case manager Wazhma Ahmadzai during a driver's education class for refugee women from Afghanistan at the Refugee Empowerment Center on Wednesday in Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Case manager Wazhma Ahmadzai (right) points out the correct option on a worksheet for Layla Sultani, a refugee from Afghanistan, during a driver's education class at the Refugee Empowerment Center on Wednesday in Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Latifa Noor smiles during her drivers education class for refugee women from Afghanistan at the Refugee Empowerment Center on Wednesday in Omaha.
Rebecca S. Gratz, for the Flatwater Free Press
Kubra Haidari, a case manager at the Refugee Empowerment Center, leans in to help a student during a drivers education class for refugee women from Afghanistan at the REC on Wednesday in Omaha.
Mujtaba Karimi crowded with hundreds of others outside a half-open gate to Hamid Karzai International Airport one night late last August. Afghan or maybe American soldiers — he’s unsure in the darkened chaos — fired their rifles in the air and launched tear gas, trying to disperse the crowd.
Mujtaba Karimi looks around while studying in Criss Library at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Monday. A former government official in Afghanistan, Karimi fled the country as a refugee in August 2021 when the Taliban took over.
Mujtaba Karimi studies in Criss Library on campus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Monday. Karimi often studies in the library until midnight as he works toward his goal of passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam in order to attend Harvard University. Karimi earned two college degrees in his home country of Afghanistan. He would like to study political science before returning to Afghanistan to become a leader.
Mujtaba Karimi (second from left) shakes hands with Fidel Mokeba of the Democratic Republic of Congo while joking around with Nabila Safari of Afghanistan (from left), Moses Kasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Harouna Nakanabo of Burkina Faso during a break in their intermediate reading, writing and grammar ESL class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Kubra Haidari, a case manager at the Refugee Empowerment Center (right) leans in to clarify part of her lesson for Asma Lalzada (from left), Latifa Noor and Zarmina Amani while teaching driver's education to a class of refugee women from Afghanistan on Wednesday in Omaha.
Kubra Haidari, a case manager at the Refugee Empowerment Center (REC) (right) mimes “stop” while teaching a class of refugee women from Afghanistan how to drive Wednesday in Omaha.
Layla Sultani (right), a refugee from Afghanistan, smiles alongside case manager Wazhma Ahmadzai during a driver's education class for refugee women from Afghanistan at the Refugee Empowerment Center on Wednesday in Omaha.
Case manager Wazhma Ahmadzai (right) points out the correct option on a worksheet for Layla Sultani, a refugee from Afghanistan, during a driver's education class at the Refugee Empowerment Center on Wednesday in Omaha.
Kubra Haidari, a case manager at the Refugee Empowerment Center, leans in to help a student during a drivers education class for refugee women from Afghanistan at the REC on Wednesday in Omaha.
