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Every year on June 20th, the world celebrates to honor people forced to flee conflict and disaster. This June, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ honors refugee changemakers, highlighting the remarkable – and everyday – ways that refugees influence art, food, ideas, policy and culture.

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Silver Spring spoke with Parwana, an Afghan refugee and changemaker who shares her culture with others through . After the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, Parwana fled to the United States with her husband and three children.  

Parwana, like many refugees, knew that coming to the U.S. would feel like starting from scratch, but she was determined: 

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Silver Spring enrolled Parwana in English classes and within a few months, Parwana could make doctor’s appointments and have basic conversations in English. She felt empowered to dream bigger and decided to open her own business.  

Parwana speaks passionately about how food brings people together. She is an excellent home cook and her friends frequently encourage her to open a restaurant. Parwana realized she could combine her passion of food and community while providing for her family. With newfound confidence in her English skills, she decided to work toward opening her own restaurant. The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Silver Spring referred Parwana to, a culinary apprenticeship program which offered Parwana the training she needed to improve her culinary abilities and work in a professional kitchen. Additionally, Parwana participated in a food truck training program with , a nonprofit that provides culinary education for veterans, given her husband’s military service. 

This year, Parwana launched her catering company, Ruby’s Fine Afghan Food, which offers Afghan, Persian, and Pakistani catering. Through catering, Parwana is able to grow her network in the hopes of opening her own food truck later this summer.  

Support local refugee-owned businesses!  

Call Ruby’s Fine Afghan Food at (240)-393-7922 or email [email protected].