Announcement
Recognizing strength in some remarkable refugees
Spotlight on our 2017 Refugee Resilience Award honorees
Resilient is another way of saying strong. And strength is more than just pushing through hardship; it’s bouncing back. Returning to form. Taking on new challenges. To leave the only life you ever knew behind and try to start over as a refugee is, to say the very least, tough. But one thing we see over and over in refugees: they’re tough.
In June, the San Diego Refugee Forum gave special recognition to some of the strongest refugees in our community through the Refugee Resilience Awards. Five of the honorees were IRC clients, Hawazin Khalaf, Mustafa Thabit, Mwadawa Saidi, Rand Fadhil and Mohammed Fathi who were nominated for showing remarkable strength, overcoming difficult circumstances and becoming inspiring residents of our fine city.
One quality that continually inspires us is their determination. Hawazin Khalaf came to the U.S. from Baghdad, Iraq less than one year ago. In that short time, she has taken enormous steps toward a career in the medical field. Despite having responsibilities at home caring for her father and younger brother, and even nursing a leg injury of her own, she pursued a difficult phlebotomy course with her usual diligence. Now a National Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Hawazin is just getting started in the medical career she’s always dreamed of.
Two years ago, Mustafa Thabit enrolled in our Vocational ESL Plus Program. He came to the U.S. from Iraq already speaking English, but knew he could learn more. One thing about Mustafa is that he’s never satisfied with the bare minimum. For him, improving his English and learning about the American work culture wasn’t just something he had to do; it was an opportunity to realize his aspirations. Soon after completing the course, he had his first part-time job. Not long after that, he had a second. It wasn’t enough. His third job as a loss prevention specialist at Ross Dress for Less gave him the chance he was looking for.
Within a few months, Mustafa had proven that with his positive attitude, organizational abilities, customer services skills, and willingness to step up to any challenge, he was ready for bigger responsibilities. He received a promotion to manager, and is determined to make this the first step on his climb up the executive ladder. This was a complete reset for someone who holds a degree in Geology from Baghdad University, but Mustafa isn’t dismayed. He plans to return to college soon to get his Master’s and looks forward to the future.
Mwadawa Saidi overcame incredible obstacles to start anew. She arrived in the U.S. pregnant, three children at her side and with three young siblings in tow. Her husband had to stay behind, but at least she had help from her mother.
Things changed two months later when her mother became ill and passed away suddenly. Alone with seven mouths to feed, Mwadawa didn’t have the luxury to give in to grief. She focused her energy into ESL study (her kids helped her practice English). The IRC gave her workforce training through Project CHOP, but she was determined to make her own way. At the first ever job fair she ever attended, she was naturally hired right away. She supports her family and maintains a positive outlook, despite her difficult circumstances.
After living for years uncertain of what the future will hold and often legally barred from working, refugees arriving in the U.S. are highly motivated to move forward in their lives and become self-sufficent. Processing time can take, on average, 18 months to two years. And this is after potentially spending decades in political limbo. One skill every refugee learns is patience.
Patience played a big part in the story of Rand Fadhil and her husband Mohammed Fathi. They were forced from their homes in Iraq soon after the fighting started. During the years they spent living in a refugee camp in Jordan, they trained to become certified dentists in Amman. When they got a chance to move to the U.S., they knew it would mean starting over, but they were determined to make it work. It wasn’t long after arriving before both had jobs in retail.
They were earning a steady income and settling into life in their new home. But in their hearts, they knew they could be doing more. By applying themselves in IRC’s Career Development and Asset Building programs, they got on track to return to the career they left behind in Jordan. Today, they are both dental assistants with Pacific Dental Group. With a ton of hard work and a lot of patience, they found themselves back in the industry they loved.
All of our honorees showed incredible strength in building a sustainable future out of a painful past. Their stories inspire us to stand strong with the thousands of refugees in the U.S. and the millions around the world. By giving them the opportunity to find a new home here in San Diego, we make our community more resilient.