Afghani Women Refugees Hear Motivational Stories From MD Entrepreneur

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Women’s Circle in Rockville, a group of Afghani women refugees, held a special meeting on Sunday where the founder of a Potomac-based company shared stories about her path to creating a new business as an immigrant.

Each monthly meeting of the Women’s Circle has a theme, guest speaker and often a giveaway gift.

The Women’s Circle, organized by the Montgomery County New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance, began more than a year ago when volunteers noticed the women's isolation, lack of peer relationships and frequent feelings of depression due to living in a new country.

The meetings also allow the women to take advantage of their newfound freedom because under Taliban rule in their home country of Afghanistan, it is illegal for women to meet with one another freely.

At Sunday’s event, held at Rockville’s Temple Beth Ami, the New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance teamed with oogiebear, a company founded by Iranian immigrant and entrepreneur Nina Farzin. Oogiebear sells an innovative line of infant and baby care products.

Oogiebear, which has been featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, now has monthly Amazon sales of $500,000. It also has been recognized and certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

About 50 women attended Sunday's meeting, where they heard Farzin's story about how she found success and belonging in the U.S. Farzin gave away free oogiebear baby products to every woman in attendance and showed them the benefits of using the products versus others on the market.

"I felt an overwhelming desire to connect from these women," Farzin said in a statement.

Farzin presented her stories with a translator to ensure every woman understood. "I got emotional when these women started asking me questions in Farsi, my native language, in a desire to connect with me," she said.

"Overall, NNIA Women's Circle is a wonderful program supporting mothers, providing an environment for connections and friendships in an unfamiliar country," Farzin said.

In its three years, NNIA has worked with more than 200 refugees and asylum-seeking arrivals, taking over from U.S. government-contracted resettlement agencies when their services expire.

The IRS-registered non-profit is volunteer-driven and provides housing subsidies, home furnishings, English language tutoring, job placement, mentorship and logistical support. Funding for NNIA comes from more than 20 Montgomery County, churches, synagogues, mosques and temples as well as individual contributions.