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ROCKVILLE, Md. — Women’s Circle of Rockville, an Afghan women refugee group, held a special meeting Sunday to discuss the story of a Potomac-based company founder’s journey as an immigrant to start a new business. We shared stories about our journey.
Each monthly Women’s Circle meeting has a theme, guest speaker, and often a giveaway.
The Women’s Circle, organized by the Montgomery County New Neighborhood Interfaith Alliance, started more than a year ago after volunteers noticed the isolation, lack of companionship and frequent feelings of depression among women living in a new country.
The gathering also allows women to take advantage of their newfound freedom, as it is illegal for women to freely meet each other under Taliban rule in their home country of Afghanistan.
At Sunday’s event, held at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, New Neighbors Interfaith Alliance partnered with Oogie Bear, a company founded by Iranian immigrant and entrepreneur Nina Farzin. Oogiebear sells a series of innovative infant and baby care products.
Oogiebear, who was previously featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, currently generates $500,000 in monthly sales on Amazon. It is also recognized and certified by the National Council for Women’s Business Enterprise.
About 50 women attended Sunday’s meeting to hear Fargin’s story about how she achieved success and felt like she belongs in the United States. Farzin gave out free Oogie Bear baby products to all the women in attendance and demonstrated the benefits of using the products compared to other products on the market.
“I felt an overwhelming desire to connect with women,” Fargin said in a statement.
Farzin shared her story with an interpreter so all women could understand. “I became emotional when the women tried to connect with me and started asking questions in my native language, Farsi,” she said.
“Overall, the NNIA Women’s Circle is a great program that supports mothers and provides an environment for connection and friendship in a strange country,” Fargin said.
NNIA worked with more than 200 refugees and asylum seekers in three years and took over a U.S. government-contracted resettlement agency whose services were terminated.
This IRS-registered nonprofit organization is volunteer-driven and provides housing subsidies, furniture, English tutoring, job placement, mentoring, and logistical support. Funding for the NNIA comes from donations from more than 20 Montgomery County churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and individuals.
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