My story began in Nicaragua…

I arrived in the United States as a refugee in January of 2023. I was completely alone.

Because I disagreed with the corrupt government in my country, I was persecuted by those in political power. They pursued me with force and violence, causing me to lose all I had worked my whole life to achieve and compelled me to flee for safety in nearby Costa Rica.

But they didn’t let me go so easily.

I was born in Congo, Africa.

I am 58 years old.

I have five boys and four girls.

My husband died in Congo.

I speak Kinyarwanda, Swahili, and a little French.

I sold yogurt and butter in Congo for work. I also farmed beans, potatoes, and other vegetables.

We left Congo because of war. We went to camp in Rwanda in 2005 and stayed there for 17 years.

I was born in Congo, Africa, and am 35 years old.

I worked as a teacher before war came and we had to leave.

We lived in a refugee camp for 10 years.

We all lived in one tent, my husband and seven children and me.

We came to Las Vegas in October 2022.

I like that we have a nice place to live, food, and schools for children in America.

My dream is to become a citizen of the United States.

I am 54 years old.

I am from Congo, Africa.

I lived in a village before the refugee camp.

I have a husband and we have seven children, two girls and five boys.

I have never been to school.

I would dig to farm food for work.

I left Congo because there was war.

I lived in a refugee camp with my family in Uganda for 23 years.

Our story begins in Cuba.

My husband was a mechanical engineer and I have a law degree in Cuba.

We have two young sons.

Leaving Cuba was emotionally and financially hard. It was a difficult journey to the land of freedom, especially with two small children.

There were days without sleep, dangerous hanging bridges, swamps, and walking in the dark sometimes for 30 hours straight.

We told the children the journey was like a game and we had to pass “levels” to be the champions.

We are grateful to God for protecting us and guiding us here. We are willing to put all our efforts towards having a better life and one day honor the help we have been given.

I was born in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

I left Ukraine six hours after the war began with just three pieces of luggage and my two girls, 10 years and 16 years.

My husband was not allowed to come with us and had to stay in Ukraine at that time..

My girls and I walked across the border into Poland, made our way to the Netherlands, and then came to the United States where we had a distant acquaintance.

We are rebuilding our lives here.

Before the war, I was a homemaker and an accountant.

I speak Ukrainian, Russian, French, Bulgarian, and English.

It is hard to start over in a new country but I have love and support from Americans here.

I am 54 years old.

I was born in Afghanistan. I have two boys and five girls.

In Afghanistan, I was a tailor and made clothes.

I had a husband who worked for the government and had a big company.

The Taliban did not like this and he was taken.

We do not know where he is or if he will ever come back.

I left Afghanistan because it was not safe for me or my children. Two of my girls stayed there.

I came to America as a refugee because it is far from Afghanistan and safer for my children.

I have lived in America for almost 4 years.

I am from Congo, Africa.

I am 60 years old.

The soldiers came to my town. It was not safe for me anymore. I had to escape to Zambia.

I was in a refugee camp there with my four sons for 16 years.

When I left to come to America, only three of my sons were allowed to come with me. My oldest had turned 18 while we waited and his paperwork was incorrect.

He waits still in the refugee camp.

I speak Swahili and a little French and a little English.

I have lived in America for six years.

I was born in Afghanistan.

Because I am a girl, I couldn’t go to school.

I was married in Afghanistan when I was 14 years old. I might have been 15 or 16 but I can’t remember for sure.

I am now 33 years old. I have four children.

My husband and his brother translated for the Americans and Canadians in Afghanistan. The Taliban did not like this so they had to leave. They have lived in Canada for the last 15 years.

My husband was working on an application to bring me and our children to Canada but because of the emergency last year, my children and I were brought to America as part of an emergency evacuation.

I was not allowed to work in Afghanistan and because I wasn’t allowed to attend school, I cannot read or write my own language.

When I came to America, I was very afraid. I couldn’t speak the language and I didn’t know what to do. I got lost often. Everything was so different and I was alone. I cried and cried for a long time every day.

Then I found Lighthouse Charities. I have a job for the first time in my life. I am learning to speak English and can read and write this language. My children are going to school. And I have a community and a work family where I belong.

I am from Congo.

I lived in a refugee camp from 1996 to 2023. (27 years)

Life in camp was bad. It is too hard to talk about.

I am the only member of my family in America and I am single with no children.

I like to pray, to cook and bake, and hope to run my own restaurant or hotel someday.

I speak Kinyarwanda and am trying to learn English.

I am 25 years old. I have five children and am expecting twins who will be born in October.

I was born in Congo, Africa, and speak Swahili. My family went to a refugee camp in Malawi. We lived there for 10 years.

Our family lived in a tent in the camp. They gave us rice and a few clothes. There were no doctors when my babies were born.

We came to America as a family on a plane with only our clothes.

My dream is that all my children will graduate from university.

I am originally from Uganda. I lived in a refugee camp in Rwanda for 25 years.

I met my wife in the refugee camp.

We have four beautiful girls.

I was a tailor, businessman, and a truck driver in Africa.

I speak Swahili, Kinyarwanda, French, and English.

I have lived in America for three years.

When I arrived, I did not know one word of English.

I learned to read, write, and speak English at Lighthouse Charities.

After advancing to work floor manager at Lighthouse, I was ready to move into the American workforce. I am now pursuing my dream of being a truck driver and attending school where I will learn this trade.