The Other Side of the Sky

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Afghanistan, Then and Now: Public Policymaking and The Refugee Experience in a New Era”

In this activity, students will be in the driver’s seat of American policymaking, attempting to find new and inventive policies that aid Afghan refugees like Ahmedi.

The Other Side of the Sky is an inspirational story of Ahmedi’s incredible resilience, her strength, and her resourcefulness; but it is also a story of how, in the face of a humanitarian crisis, many governments have poorly-structured bureaucratic and political systems that are ill-equipped to handle incoming refugees with the dignity and care they deserve.

Since Ahmedi and her mother fled Afghanistan, much has changed in both Afghanistan and in America. Notably in 2021, the Biden administration made the momentous decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years, and the country returned to Taliban rule.

Reflect on the kinds of social programs Ahmedi and her mother might have accessed that would have helped alleviate some of their struggles in acclimating to the US. Taking into consideration the latest developments in Afghanistan, create a new public policy recommendation to serve the international refugee community. Break into groups of 4-5 students, and then work through the following 3 steps:

• First, brush up on the American public policy process. Utilize the University of Texas at Austin “The Public Policy Process” that shows the 6 stages of policymaking in American government. Familiarize yourself with the stages, focusing on Problem Identification, Agenda Setting, and Policy Making parts of the cycle. You can also use an applicable resource suggested by your teacher or one that you have found.
• Next, research the latest policy on the current refugee crisis. The UN Refugee Agency has a wealth of information on current policy and vital statistics around global refugees, including country-specific information on Afghanistan in “Afghanistan Humanitarian Crisis.” Explore this site thoroughly before moving onto the next step, gathering the necessary data you’ll need to make a compelling case for your policy. You can also use an applicable resource suggested by your teacher or one that you have found.
• Make a policy recommendation in a mock Congressional hearing. For this portion of the exercise, each small group will take turns presenting their issue (“the witnesses”), while the rest of the class will be assigned either a role as an evaluator (“the committee”) or a listener (“the audience”).

Each small group should make their public policy recommendation in 5-10-minute presentations. Finally, discuss as a group which of the policies were the strongest and the challenges your group encountered in the process.

Teaching Suggestion: Before beginning this activity, emphasize to students that policymaking is a complex process in the US, one that is affected by a myriad of factors both big and small. This activity is an opportunity to learn some basics of policymaking and give students a chance to flex their judgment and political-reasoning skills, using what they know about Ahmedi’s story as fuel for their choices. You might review The Civic Educator’s instructions on “How to Use a Mock Congressional Hearing in Your Social Studies Class” when guiding the students through the mock Congressional hearing. 

• The Washington Post’s “Two Weeks of Chaos: A Timeline of the US Pullout of Afghanistan” offers more information on this historical event.