The universal language of a toy: Pirate Toy Fund helps refugees settle in new homes

Rochester, N.Y. — The world watched as thousands had to be evacuated from Afghanistan as the Taliban took control.

Esmatullah Ahmadzai was there. That was his home.

Ahmadzai is a journalist with three degrees. He was working on his master's in leadership when he had to pack up his wife and two young sons and leave their homeland.

"The situation was bad, and we came to the USA," said Ahmadzai.

He arrived in the U.S. in August, settling in Rochester in early November.

"Each family served the United States in some way and to me, it is the least that we can do for them for serving our country and our interests overseas," said Ellen Smith, executive director of Keeping Our Promise.

The organization helps refugee families settle in Rochester and start a new chapter.

"I am so happy that I have these kinds of people. I am so happy to the Catholic Family Center and all the organizations - that they support us, they help us," said Ahmadzai.

In an unfamiliar place, a toy can mean so much.

"We started working with the Pirate Toy Fund a couple of years ago because we wanted to make sure a child had a toy when they arrived at the airport," Smith said.

It's a friendly gesture but also a relief for families who have traveled for hours, sometimes even days.

"They like to play with the toys, the things they like, for example a car, ball, etc.," said Ahmadzai.

Smith says the toy is a welcoming symbol, no matter what language a person speaks.

"Play is the universal language so while our volunteers may not speak Poshtu or Dari, the fact that they can sit on the floor with a child and just learn blue, red, yellow, orange or play with a stuffed animal and a dog or cat and go 'Woof, woof' - those little things. Play is the universal language," Smith said.

So far, Keeping Our Promise has placed 58 families from Afghanistan in Rochester.

You can donate new, unwrapped toys at any of our Rochester area malls, The Strong National Museum of Play and Mark's Pizzeria or here.