Amazon, Facebook, Pfizer join efforts to create jobs for Afghan refugees

Afghan refugees are fleeing to America and companies are coming together to do their part in helping the transition.

More than 120,000 people were airlifted out of Kabul, Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country in August, according to briefings from the U.S. Defense Department and the White House; 50,000 are expected to be admitted into the United States. In an effort to create economic opportunities for refugees, thirty-two companies including Amazon, Facebook, Pfizer and Chobani announced that they will join the Tent Coalition for Afghan Refugees network, part of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, to generate jobs and provide training and other resources, according to a press release.

The participating companies span across sectors from tech and retail to food service and consulting, according to the press release, showing the broad level of support for Afghan refugees among the business community.

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"America is at a critical juncture, and every part of our society must play its part to welcome our Afghan brothers and sisters,” Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani and founder of the Tent Partnership for Refugees, said in the release. “They have stood by our side, and we must stand by theirs.”

A recent poll found that 81% of Americans feel the U.S. should support Afghans who worked with our troops. And for some of the companies, this isn’t the first time they’ve pledged themselves to refugees. Amazon has made it a point to hire refugees from all nationalities at its fulfillment and transportation centers, and also works to train and place high-skilled refugees in corporate roles across different business teams, according to the press release.

“We are committed to expanding and improving on these efforts and providing employment support for the refugee population,” said Beth Galetti, Amazon's senior vice president of people eXperience and technology in the press release. "Including the imminent need for Afghan refugees."

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The Tent Coalition for Afghan Refugees partners with Welcome.US, a national initiative to engage and mobilize all Americans to welcome and support Afghan refugees, according to the press release. The Coalition also supports the U.S. Government's long-term vision of economic and social integration.

“The moment a refugee gets a job, it's the moment they stop being a refugee,” Ulukaya said. “It's the moment they can stand on their own two feet; it's the moment they can make new friends; it's the moment they can start a new life."