Adult English Language and Literacy Instructor
Malalai Wiar is an Adult English Language and Literacy Instructor and Wellness Educator at Refugee & Immigrant Transitions (RIT), where she empowers immigrant and refugee communities through education, wellness, and cultural connection. She teaches adult classes that respond to the needs of her students, helping them build English, literacy, and job skills, including digital literacy.
In addition to her classroom teaching, Malalai leads the Women Access Wellness program, where she helps women, many of whom have never had access to formal education, learn to read and write, regain confidence, and support one another in their journeys toward independence and well-being. With her compassionate approach, she creates safe spaces for women to strengthen their mental health, share experiences, and build community while empowering themselves through various workshops.
Malalai’s path to this work reflects her resilience and determination. Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the US in 2014 with her family, she speaks multiple languages, including Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Hindi/Urdu, and English. After dedicating 16 years as a housewife, she returned to her studies and earned a degree in psychology to better understand human behavior and mental processes.
Because English is not her first language, Malalai understands the challenges her students face and is able to connect with them through empathy and shared experiences. The main reason Malalai has become an RIT team member is due to her passion for helping others and having a deeper connection to how hard it can be to live in a country where it is the polar opposite to where you have originated from.
Malalai is deeply motivated by her colleagues and students at RIT, and she looks forward to continuing to expand her impact through teaching, wellness education, and community empowerment.