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The Rochester region has recently welcomed its first Afghani and Halal pastry shop called Breaddough Hot&Fresh. This bakery offers an array of authentic Afghani and Halal pastries, specialty bakery items, and traditional breads. Mustafa Dawran, the owner of the bakery, is originally from Afghanistan and arrived in the United States in 2016 through the non-profit organization Keeping Our Promise. This organization assists individuals in Afghanistan and Iraq who have supported American interests to resettle in the United States, with Rochester designated as a resettlement city.
As a journalist for an American-backed radio station, Mustafa was able to obtain Special Immigrant Visas for his family to relocate to the United States. However, upon his arrival, he was faced with a language barrier that prevented him from continuing his career in journalism. To support his family, he took on a job as a truck driver after working at Goodwill and the YMCA. Although the journey to create a new career, life, and home has been emotionally challenging, Mustafa kept his doors open and eventually found a way to fulfill a need in the community by opening Breaddough Hot&Fresh.
Ellen Smith, the Executive Director of Keeping Our Promise, highlights the continued need for support as the organization is aiding around 400 families in Afghanistan each week. The recent resurgence of the Taliban in 2021 has made it even more challenging for families to flee the country. Mustafa still has family members living in Afghanistan, including his father and siblings. He explains that they are constantly changing their addresses as they are being targeted by the Taliban due to their association with the United States.
Despite the challenges, Mustafa is determined to grow his business and has plans to expand into other parts of Upstate New York within the next five years. He is also working on incorporating the ability to accept EBT cards at Breaddough Hot&Fresh, recognizing that this is a standard for many families resettling.
Keeping Our Promise is holding its main annual fundraising event, the Road to Resilience Gala, at the Memorial Art Gallery this month. The proceeds from ticket sales help support KOP’s efforts to continue resettling families in Rochester. The event takes place on Wednesday, April 26th, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., and tickets are still available.
Mustafa Dawran’s journey to the United States has been a challenging one, but he has found a way to give back to his community by opening Breaddough Hot&Fresh. His bakery offers a taste of Afghanistan to those who have resettled in Rochester and serves as a comforting reminder of home for refugees. His success is a testament to the resilience of refugees who have been displaced from their homelands and are striving to make a new life in a foreign country.
