This will be an in person presentation with Sayd Matin Hussainy, who escaped from Afghanistan to the USA recently.  The talk will be held in the Keys Community Room, beginning at 7 PM.  The speaker was born into an educated family and attended college in Afghanistan.  His dream was to become a scientist and he applied to be a travel assistant for the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, but unfortunately this all came to a halt when the Taliban took over.

This is what Matin has to say about his experience:   "My journey from Afghanistan to the USA has been challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding.  I am grateful for the opportunity to save my life and pursue my dreams here.  One of my dreams is to build a library in Afghanistan - a place where knowledge, culture, and community can thrive.  Additionally, I am passionate about education and serving others.  Our discussion about the public speaking session with the research department left me inspired, and I am eager to participate....I would love to share my story with the Milton Library members and engage in meaninful dialogue."

And here is a segment from an interview with him which was done by a non-profit called "Their Story is Our Story" and the entry is titled: Hard Days: An Afghan's Mental Health Journey after His Arrival in the U.S.: 

My father had advice that I will never forget. “Today maybe is not a good day for you. But tomorrow will be your day. Do not lose your dignity and maintain your hope.”  I spent two months in Indiana at Camp Atterbury.  At one point about 7000 people were in the camp but the population of the city was 4000. They just weren’t prepared for that many people. At first there wasn’t enough food. I have pictures of the line. I got in the line at 6am and at noon, I entered the kitchen. For the first time in my life I was living with 30 people in one room with no privacy.  Those were hard days for me. I couldn’t sleep in the camp. Everything was a different experience and a very, very hard one. I hadn’t imagined that. It was lonely, even surrounded by Afghans..."

No advance signup is required.  Just please come join Matin for an enlightening and inspiring program with host Jean Hlady.  Questions? Email jhlady@milton.ocln.org or call the Reference Dept. at (617) 898-4964.

This program is kindly sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library and is free and open to all.

We hope you will attend to learn more about this determined and hard-working young man who hopes to bring good things to America!