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Farshid & Sima's Story

Published on
February 26, 2024
As told by
PLAN

Outcomes that matter

In 2023, we celebrated a remarkable triumph as our clients, Farshid & Sima, were granted asylum after fleeing Iran following their conversion from Islam to Christianity. This incredible achievement illustrates the power of community.

  • Farshid & Sima* shared their powerful testimonies,
  • PLAN prepared them and guided them through the immigration process,
  • Jafar, a PLAN volunteer, provided invaluable Farsi-English interpretation,
  • Dr. Auerbach, an Amnesty International volunteer, offered crucial testimony about the risks faced by Christian converts in Iran, and
  • The local Presbyterian community at Guadalupe Presbyterian Church, Living Streams Church, and University Presbyterian Church provided housing, clothing, rides, English and music lessons, community, and so much more.

Building Power & Belonging

At PLAN, our goal is not to just get an immigrant legal status, but to a cultivate power within the immigrant community and empower our clients to share their skills and resources to create positive change and increase belonging.

In the fall of 2023, we had the privilege of inviting Farshid to perform the Iranian violin at our annual immigrant storytelling event, Resilience in our own words.

Farshid playing the Iranian violin

During the Q&A after his dazzling performance, he shared more about the profound impact his brother had on his love for music and his conversion to Christianity from Islam. His story and others reminded all of us of our shared humanity and resilience.

 “You have taken impersonal statistics and placed faces and hearts in our care.”      – Event Attendee

If you’d like to see more of our outcomes, check out our impact report.

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*Name changed to protect privacy*

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