ABOUT US:​

Keeping Our Promise, Inc. is the most comprehensive resettlement program for Afghan, Iraqi and Kurdish interpreters and support personnel in the United States today.

​Based in Rochester, NY, we assist with initial visa applications under the Special Immigrant Visa Program. Once visas are granted, we will find and furnish our allies' first apartments, and help with finding employment. We help with a modest vehicle to get to work. Caring Circles help fully integrating families into their new lives so they can quickly become contributing members of the Rochester, NY community. 

Rochester is now home to Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Hazara, Turkmen and Nuristanis from Afghanistan, Sunni and Shia Iraqis, as well as Kurdish allies, who served the U.S. and came to Rochester under the Special Immigrant Visa program for their faithful and honorable service to the United States in a war-zone. 

Keeping Our Promise, Inc. 2021 Statistics & Success

• 74 Afghan families totaling 219 individuals were resettled in the greater Rochester, NY area. The majority – 195 individuals – arrived since July 4. A record for our program, and straining our volunteer capacity.  Volunteers fully furnished 66 apartments from community donations and beds purchased from Saint's Place. (The remaining 8 were furnished by Saint's Place when we were stretched to capacity.)
• $103,000+ has been paid in rent and security deposits
• Over 100 families have been granted vehicles through our Wheels for Work Program since 2015. Transportation better ensures that clients can secure jobs and stay employed. 18 vehicles were granted in 2021 totaling $38,950.51, including a wheelchair accessible van for a couple, one of whom was left a quadriplegic by a suicide bomber.
• Over $42,000 in food gift cards was provided. This necessity is especially important with the extended delays in receiving benefits due to an overwhelmed system during the COVID-19 pandemic.  
  
• Each family receives a computer so the head of household can conduct job searches.
• Every adult and child gets a bike thanks to R-Community Bikes.
• 14,434 volunteer hours were logged in 2021!  Note: As of April 2021, the national value of each volunteer hour is $28.54, meaning volunteers have contributed nearly $412,000 to support our resettlement efforts!