Announcement
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Boise provides robust support to refugees, humanitarian parolees, and asylees ensuring that individuals are self-sufficient moving forward. Charles Otyekonote is a great example of what self-sufficiency looks like after receiving IRC services.
Charles arrived with his family in March of 2023, after fleeing South Sudan and staying in Uganda while his family waited to resettle permanently in the United States. Upon arrival, his first observation of Idaho was “Where are the people?” surprised by the number of cars on the streets. He expressed gratitude for the caseworkers who were waiting to pick him, his wife, and two children up at the airport that evening.
After resting for a couple of days from the long journey, Charles and his wife were excited to get to work. Like many refugees, Charles began his English classes, job placement training, and house placement meetings to ensure his family was set up for success. Within two months, Charles and his wife secured jobs, an apartment, and a car. By the third month, Charles started classes to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to pursue a healthcare career.
“I am someone who likes working. It’s a duty,” Charles shares. “My wife started working in Kuna at a meatpacking plant, but now works in a nursing home. She was at the meatpacking place for 4 months, then went to the nursing home. She likes it so much. Right now, she’s not working because she’s almost giving birth. After everything goes well, she’ll definitely go back to work. She likes working so much!”
A year later, Charles is still employed, housed, and mobile. With one more test to go, Charles is almost finished with his CNA program, just in time for the birth of his third child. When asking Charles about his time in Boise, he states, “This is the right place for me.” As he continues to work, he’s thankful for the caseworkers who supported his journey.
“The IRC was everything to me. Starting with the arrival at the airport, looking for housing, job, helping me get to school, English class, the college, taking me to get help with Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, providing me with bus passes, I still remember them giving me some clothes. They’ve been so helpful with my life in Boise.”
As he continues his journey in Boise, his main goal is to keep working to provide a better future for his children. He’s excited for the chance they have to go to school, as education past junior high in Uganda would have been expensive.
“I’ll encourage people to love their work, any job, any work, they should put much effort into loving their work to support their families. They should encourage their children to go to school. Just keep encouraging and pushing for a better future for their kids.”
Charles demonstrates what strength, determination, and resilience look like. He is a determined father, husband, employee, student, and Idahoan who wants the future for his family to be safe and bright.