[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_image admin_label=”Fullwidth Image” src=”https:\/\/kjzz2017.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2016\/01\/NPR-placeholder-1920×15.gif” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][et_pb_fullwidth_image admin_label=”Fullwidth Image” src=”https:\/\/kjzz2017.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2017\/01\/IMG_6958.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_post_title admin_label=”Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”below” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”left” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” text_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.9)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n
In 2006, at a time of violence and turbulence in Iraq, Mustafa Alalusi and his mother and sister went to Syria .<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went to Syria, and Syria was just temporary living,\u201d he said, his father even stayed in Iraq.<\/p>\n
However, his father eventually deemed the situation in Iraq too dangerous, and joined them in Syria.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad came and he said look it\u2019s not going well so we have to stay here and we\u2019re not going back,\u201d Alalusi, now 27, said.<\/p>\n
What was supposed to be a vacation turned into a four year stay.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_audio admin_label=”Audio” title=”From Iraq to Arizona: one refugee\u2019s story” artist_name=”Alexandra Watts | NextGenRadio” background_layout=”dark” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” audio=”https:\/\/kjzz2017.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2017\/01\/Alex_RefugeeHelpingHands_Master-cm-01.mp3″] [\/et_pb_audio][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/kjzz2017.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2017\/01\/IMG_7003.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
Mustafa Alalusi at the Helping Hand for Relief and Development in Chandler, Arizona.\u00a0(Photo by Alexandra Watts)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n \u201cI remember that day,\u201d he said, recalling the day he learned he was not going back to Iraq. \u201cI was like crying. I went to a room, because I remembered my friends, the high school \u2026 my city and the way we used to hang out. I kept that sad feeling for a couple of days that I\u2019m not going back.\u201d<\/p>\n He recalls having to call friends to tell them that he was not coming back to the country.<\/p>\n Alalusi and his family stayed in Syria and applied for refugee status with the United Nations. After four years, Alalusi and his family settled in Arizona.<\/p>\n Alalusi and his family settled in Arizona, a place he was familiar with.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to read a lot of passages about the US, about like [American] hobbies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI read in one of the books about Arizona and about water rafting,\u201d Alalusi said, specifically recalling a photo of the Colorado River.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n Arizona is welcoming to refugees. In 2015, more than 3,000 refugees arrived in Arizona from multiple countries, including Syria and Burma, according to federal government data.<\/p>\n Not only does Alalusi strive to better himself, but he wants to better the life of others who were once in his position. He took a part-time job as the operations and warehouse coordinator at the Arizona branch of Helping Hands for Relief and Development, an Islamic charity that provides international aid.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/kjzz2017.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2017\/01\/IMG_6961.jpg” alt=”Mustafa’s T-shirt reads Support, Educate, Empower” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Mustafa’s T-shirt\u00a0(Photo by Alexandra Watts)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_testimonial admin_label=”Testimonial” author=”Mustafa Alalusi” url_new_window=”off” quote_icon=”on” use_background_color=”on” background_color=”#f5f5f5″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n \u201cI was like crying. I went to a room, because I remembered my friends, the high school \u2026 my city and the way we used to hang out. I kept that sad feeling for a couple of days that I\u2019m not going back.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n \u201cIn our religion we believe that there is two rights that we have to fulfill as Muslims,\u201d he said. \u201cThe rights of Allah and the rights of fulfilling the rest of the creation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur organization is relief, but also development,\u201d said Gul Siddiqi, who runs HHRD\u2019s Arizona branch. \u201cWe want long term good that comes out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, both Siddiqi and Alalusi took trips for relief. Siddiqi went to Jordan to visit Syrian refugees.<\/p>\n Alalusi went to Haiti to distribute food and aid to individuals in Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.<\/p>\n Alalusi shows videos from of food distributions and visits to orphanages on his trip.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you know just like a long dress. And then the hat is\u2026it looks it\u2019s handmade\u2026.I think this is probably all she has now,\u201d he said as he shows a video of a woman in Haiti.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n He also has an understanding of refugees and those in need, with him being one himself.<\/p>\n Alalusi continues to better his life in the United States. Both he and his sister are attending community colleges in the Phoenix area. Alalusi hopes to eventually transfer to Arizona State University wants to study in electrical engineering and sustainability.<\/p>\n \u201cI think here in the U.S., there is a better future,\u201d Alalusi said. \u201cThere is a light at the end of the tunnel, you know, could predict what are you gonna be in the future. I\u2019m thankful and grateful for this opportunity to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs they say, you know, America is the land of dreams,\u201d Alalusi said. \u201cYou know, I could work on my dreams, I could strive to reach accomplish everything that I\u2019ve been thinking about.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_image admin_label=”Fullwidth Image” src=”https:\/\/kjzz2017.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/30\/2016\/01\/NPR-placeholder-1920×15.gif” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 2006, at a time of violence and turbulence in Iraq, Mustafa Alalusi and his mother and sister went to Syria . \u201cWe went to Syria, and Syria was just temporary living,\u201d he said, his father even stayed in Iraq. 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