A summer like no other for Afghan newcomers

Camp Treetops helps newcomer siblings live like kids again

When Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, sisters Sediqa, Mursal, and Zahra Fahimi were evacuated to the U.S., leaving behind their parents and three younger siblings, Aylar, Sharif, and Murtaza.

After fleeing Afghanistan, their family spent several difficult years in Pakistan without access to education or stability. At last, in September 2024, the entire family reunited in the United States through the Welcome Corps program.

Now, one year since their arrival, their lives have been completely transformed.

For 9-year-old Aylar and 17-year-old Murtaza, this past summer represented something extraordinary: their first chance in years to simply be kids.

That opportunity for them came at Camp Treetops in Lake Placid, New York, where Murtaza served as a kitchen staff member and Aylar attended as a camper on scholarship.

Their path to this summer was anything but easy.

It was especially difficult for Aylar to be separated from her family. “When I was in Pakistan, the hardest part was being apart from my sisters for four years. It was really hard.”

At camp, both siblings discovered new sides of themselves. For Murtaza, it was learning how to work with people in his first real job.

“I discovered that I’m kind of more tolerant when I’m working with people. I didn’t know if I was good with people, but I am,” he said.

Aylar reflected that the camp boosted her confidence. “I discovered about myself that I’m more confident with people, and I’m really happy that I have more friends now.”

The kindness of others – from the moment Murtaza and Aylar arrived at the picturesque campgrounds – made all the difference.

“When I didn’t know where to sit for dinner, everyone tried to say, ‘Oh, come here, you can sit here.’ It was a very good experience.”

That welcoming spirit soon turned into friendships. “I was surprised that I get to have more friends than I ever had before,” Aylar shared.

During their weeks at the camp, the siblings made special memories that they will carry with them forever. Aylar still laughs about watching two boys at breakfast eating “20 sausages.” She loved swimming, camping trips, and playing with the camp cat, Perky. “He was sitting on my bed, laying and taking a nap. He looked so peaceful,” she recalled.

For Murtaza, one unforgettable moment came during Sunday kitchen duty.

“We ran out of pancakes, and it was a very hard day. But I kind of liked it, because it showed me how difficult working can be and how I should face it. I will remember that for a long time.”

The impact of camp has gone far beyond fun. Their sister Sediqa, who has supported them closely, noticed remarkable changes in her youngest siblings.

“Before, we were shy people. Now I see them being open, saying hi first, starting conversations. When I came to the visitors weekend, I couldn’t believe how happy Aylar was. She was saying hi to every single person,” Sediqa shared.

As the siblings looked ahead to the new school year, it no longer seemed daunting with their newfound confidence; they shared messages for other kids like them who might be facing difficult journeys ahead.

Aylar shared, “At first it’s going to be hard, but try your best to do anything you can.”

Murtaza said, “Don’t overthink. You’ll be fine. Everything will be.”

At Camp Treetops, against the backdrop of mountains that remind them of home, they finally lived that truth.

Image credit: Photos by Erika Bailey, courtesy of North Country School & Camp Treetops