Khaibar Shafaq, who fled Afghanistan during Operation Allies Welcome and now leads local efforts to assist refugees, will share his personal story and professional insights during an upcoming Owensboro Area World Affairs Council (OAWAC) event.
Shafaq, Director of Migration and Refugee Services for Catholic Charities of Owensboro, will present Understanding the Refugee Journey and the Resettlement Process on Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Owensboro Community and Technical College Main Campus, Blandford Lecture Hall in the Humanities Building.
Shafaq came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2021. He has been serving with Catholic Charities since shortly after his arrival, beginning as a tornado relief case manager following the December 2021 tornado outbreak in Mayfield and surrounding areas, and later transitioning to assisting African refugees with asylum interviews and immigration paperwork as a paralegal.
In October 2024, he became the director of the agency’s new Migration and Refugee Services division.
Shafaq said his presentation will focus on helping the community understand the refugee experience, from displacement and life in refugee camps to the extensive vetting and resettlement process in the United States.
“It’s mainly about the understanding of global displacement, the refugee journey and life in camps, the U.S. refugee resettlement process, the vetting process, the integration, and the post-arrival community support,” Shafaq said.
He added that he will share his personal journey alongside the broader challenges faced by many refugees. The event will include a short video, a presentation, and an opportunity for questions.
Shafaq said he looks forward to offering a deeper understanding of the refugee experience and highlighting the work being done locally by Catholic Charities of Owensboro.The event is free and open to the public. For more information about OAWAC, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/OAWAC.
