A Somali Refugee, Bashir Is Following His Dreams in Boston
Bashir speaks warmly of the culture he grew up in. “Somali culture is based on hospitality. They are a joined communit…
Virtuous Cycles: Donated Bikes Help Refugees Move Forward
Among the many challenges refugees face in the U.S., transportation access can be particularly daunting. It takes a lon…
It Runs in the Family: Refugee Mother and Daughters Discover Career and Purpose in Nursing
Hearing the pop of nearby gunshots was once a part of daily life for Nininahazwe and her daughters in their home countr…
Congolese Refugees Find Community and Wellness with Monthly Women’s Group
On a Thursday in late November, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo carefully folds an orange turkey th…
How Styve, an IINE ESOL Student and Haitian Immigrant, is Shining a Light on His Nation’s Challenges and Spirit
Note: Quotes from Styve have been translated from Haitian Creole. Back in his native Haiti, Styve taught high school m…
“I know how to be a refugee. Now I want to help people”: Vlada’s Journey from War-Torn Ukraine to New Hampshire
“In One Moment” In 2022, in her native country of Ukraine, Vlada had started her “dream job,” working as a…
“Like a Dream Come True”: Farishta’s Journey from Afghan Refugee to U.S. Citizen
“It is like a dream come true. It is the biggest day of my life. After all the problems and long journey, finally I ach…
“I Never Felt Alone”: Maydelyn, a Refugee and Single Mom from Guatemala, Finds Community and a New Start in Massachusetts
Arriving full of hope After making an impossible choice and a difficult journey, Maydelyn, a former schoolteacher, refu…
Nazia’s Story: An Afghan Refugee’s Relentless Commitment to Education and Hope
The hardest and most important job Growing up in Afghanistan, Nazia developed a true passion for teaching at a young ag…
Suitcase Stories®: Mapendo Reflects on Her Family’s Journey From the Democratic Republic of Congo and Starting Over
“This is when we knew we had to start life all over.” Mapendo, a refugee youth client at IINE, is originall…
A year after the fall of Kabul – Zahra’s story
On Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Taliban surrounded Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and retook control of the battered nat…
Becoming a New American
The resettlement process doesn’t end once our clients safely relocate to their new communities. This is often just the …