“Now we feel like we belong, like we have a home here, in America.”

“ElAda and the teachers make us feel like we have a family here.”

“You have helped us. We can never repay your for what you have done, but God will.”

These are just some of the comments that touched our hearts at our recent graduation ceremony celebrating the completion of a 6 week job training program we conducted in conjunction El-Ada Community Action. 

Now you know why we do what we do!

Eight dedicated, persistent and good-humored trainees, refugees from Congo and Burundi, attended daily, learning language and job skills to help them enter a variety of job markets from hotel and hospitality work to warehouse and restaurant work.

More important than the job skills and specific language skills we worked on together was the confidence that grew in each trainee as we talked and learned and worked and did site visits throughout the fall. We had the privilege of watching each training blossom and to discover the depth, beauty and abilities each has brought with them to this new country.

I hope you get to meet them someday!