Afghanistan and Central Asian Association

General information

Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) was founded in 2001 by Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi, a refugee who arrived in the UK with his young children in a refrigerated container in 1999. Dr Nasimi is the current Director, providing continuity for the charity in retaining its values and mission, and establishing a sound reputation amongst the minority and broader communities.

The charity just launched its new office in Hounslow. Its recent expansion to Hounslow was prompted by the fact that Hounslow has the highest population of Afghans in London, yet there is no organisation dedicated to serve as a grassroots and frontline charity in Hounslow and the surrounding areas.

ACAA is a voluntary organisation that works to empower refugees and asylum seekers, particularly from Afghanistan and Central Asia, from the point of their arrival and throughout their transition to UK settlement. Refugees experience multiple disadvantages ranging from language barriers to being victims of domestic violence and suffering from poor mental health. We understand that disadvantages acting together can make it more difficult for people to integrate and prosper and as such we provide holistic services that cater to the complex and often intersecting needs of our beneficiaries.

We are a frontline and organic charity that has moved from strength to strength for the past 16 years. Over 50% of staff and trustees and 80% of volunteers come from a refugee or migrant background, and many have previously been beneficiaries of ACAA.