LYNNWOOD—When Ahmad Hilal Abid was just 17-years old he fled his worn-torn country of Afghanistan to Edmonds, Washington, seeking a better life. Once there, he faced several challenges from language barriers, to adapting to a new culture, to learning how to navigate the U.S. systems to set himself up for a path towards success.
Abid enrolled himself in a program to learn English through Edmonds College where he met many people in a similar boat; those who had been displaced from their home countries, now struggling to know where, and how, to access resources in America.
It was then when he got the idea to form a community gathering space in his parent’s garage in 2020, inviting fellow immigrants and refugees to congregate, share resources, and assist each other in navigating the world of academics, government and nonprofit services, and the simple necessities of life. This assembly eventually became known as the House of Wisdom, now a certified nonprofit which serves 200 individuals annually in learning English, tutoring academic programs, leading workshops in programming and computer science, and even helping individuals update their resumes and apply for jobs.
“These were things I was learning at the same time. For example, I would learn how to write a resume then turn around and help them learn how to write a resume, I would learn something in school then turn around and help others learn that lesson,” Abid told the Lynnwood Times. “At that time, it was also COVID so I was faced with a lot of challenges such as social distancing and many places being shut down.”
Abid was ultimately inspired by the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go further, go together.”
The House of Wisdom gets its name from the Grand Library of Baghdad in Iraq (also known as the House of Wisdom) which was the world’s largest public library during the Islamic Golden Age. It was here where scholars and scribes would gather to translate historic texts, preserve rare books and poetry, and hold intellectual discourse that eventually led to significant contributions to mathematics, philosophy, medicine, and astronomy.
The House of Wisdom was destroyed in the 13th century by a Mongol-led siege.
Nonprofits run in Abid’s blood. While still living in Afghanistan his father worked for a U.S. nonprofit to build schools after his home city of Kabul was decimated by bombing raids. Knowing the importance of nonprofit initiatives, Abid’s father granted him a $300 loan – the starting funds used to get the project up and running.
In just five years the House of Wisdom grew from operating out of a garage with a $300 budget to housing several facilities (at Edmonds College, Alderwood Middle School, in Lake City, and Casino Road in Everett) throughout South Snohomish County totaling 70 staff members (which includes part-time, full-time, as well as volunteers). It was certified as a 501(c)(3) in 2022.
The House of Wisdom is primarily supported by grants and donors, as well as through its many partners including the Hazel Miller Foundation, Foundation for Edmonds School District, University of Washington, Shoreline Community College, and Edmonds College.
“This is no longer just about immigrant students; it’s about all students now because we know mentorship and tutoring is not just needed for one group. All people need tutoring and many people in Lynnwood suffer from low income, so we are focusing on those underserved people,” said Abid.
Abid, just 24 years old, completed his associate’s degree from Edmonds College, focused on English and Paralegal services, and is now in his last year at the University of Washington where he studies Political Science and Law.
Through his work at the House of Wisdom, he received the Governor’s Student Civic Leadership Award (2022) and was named one of the Top Three Emerging Leaders in 2024 from Snohomish County. He has also spoken about his success in a TEDx talk.
“I was young, and I’m still young, but this has truly been a journey of transformation,” Abid told the Lynnwood Times.
Abid added that he does not want the community to depend upon the House of Wisdom, he wants to ensure they flourish independently. A proof of their success, he said, is seeing them begin as students but then go on to become tutors themselves or give back to their community in other ways.
In fact, many of Abid’s former students return to the House of Wisdom after obtaining their degrees – to give back and become tutors themselves, he shared.
The House of Wisdom offers K-12 tutoring services in math, and K-12, all the way up to adults, in English language classes. According to Abid, students of the House of Wisdom currently have a 80-90% success rate with raising their test scores and academic performance in general.
Beyond academics, the nonprofit also prioritizes mentoring and emotional support, with mentors working closely with students to provide guidance, build self-confidence, and help them navigate challenges in both their academic and personal lives.
The House of Wisdom’s staff represent a diverse pool of different ethnic backgrounds, from Latino, to Eastern European (Ukraine, for example), to African, to Asian, to meet the community where their needs are.
“If someone comes in and they don’t speak any English, for example, and we have a staff member that speaks their language, great, but if not, we reach out to our many community partners that can help them,” said Abid.
All the House of Wisdom’s services are offered free-of-charge to students and community members alike.
“One hour of tutoring usually costs $50 to $100. Many people, even middle class, can’t provide that much money [for tutoring for their kids], due to inflation and other challenges. This is where the House of Wisdom is stepping up and providing this service for free,” said Abid.
Those interested in enrolling in the House of Wisdom’s services, or becoming a tutor, can contact Abid by emailing: ahmadhilal@thehouseofwisdomwa.org
Author: Kienan Briscoe
One Response
Ahmad is truly a saint. His commitment to the community is unparalleled. He is lowering barriers, making education more accessible for many. Keep up the amazing work Ahmad.