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Khadra’s Discovers Her Independence

At 25 years old, Khadra left her home in Somalia, seeking safety and better access to medical care. Her options in Somalia were limited. “I stayed at home mostly. For one, I’m disabled, and people tried to limit my ability. Two, there was a war going on, and I was...

Khadra’s Discovers Her Independence

Wilfrido’s Next Step Forward

Wilfrido was walking down the street more than two years ago when he saw the sign: English Learning Center. He walked inside, down the stairs to the school basement, and enrolled that same day. When asked why he feels that learning English is important, he laughs as though the answer is obvious. “Because it opens

Now He Can Say, “I am Shimoy!”

Saying Goodbye to Shimoy the Rancher In another life, Shimoy was a rancher of goats, camels, and cows. He insists that he loved all the animals equally, keeping no favorites. The land was beautiful and green, situated between the two largest rivers in Somalia. Although times could be very hard, such as during drought, the

You Must Have Hope and Keep Going

I never got to go to school before. Right when I started going to my first school, the civil war started in Somalia. It was a terrible, dark time. Everyone was running for their life. I was very young then. We left Somalia and went to Kenya. Life in a refugee camp is very hard.

Suleban Faces Forward

Suleban remembers his early years in Somalia with fondness. Everything was so simple then. He went to school and played soccer in his free time. As he got older, he started working in a meat factory to earn a little income. Sadly, those simpler times didn’t last. War came to his home country, and Suleban,

Nora Finds Connection and Community

Before coming to the United States, Nora owned her own business in Somalia, selling coffee, tea, and snacks. She had many customers and knew a lot of people. So the isolation she felt when she moved to Minnesota was a stark contrast. At first, Nora didn’t leave the house, let alone talk to people. She