High school students in Wakefield, Massachusetts, helped a struggling refugee from Afghanistan obtain a functional vehicle so he could provide for himself and his family, MassLive reports.
The man, who chose to keep his identity private, helped United States forces during the war in Afghanistan, and later came to the U.S. “as a refugee on a military transport plane.”
Now settled in Massachusetts, he has struggled with transportation to provide for himself and his young child. He had been utilizing rideshare apps in order to get to his night shift job, but the cost of using such services regularly is hefty.
A non-profit based in Concord, Massachusetts, called Second Chance Cars donated a 2006 Honda Accord, which four students in the automotive program at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield, Massachusetts, restored for the man.
The students fixed the vehicle's “front bumper cover, repaired the rear bumper reinforcement, made plastic repairs to a rocker panel cover and refinished the trunk lid,” using the knowledge they gained from their classes.
MacGregor, one of the instructors who oversaw the work, said he appreciates that students are also involved with presenting the refurbished vehicle to its owner.
“I believe that the experience provides a greater sense of relevance and purpose to their work, and a stronger connection to their community,” he said.
