Jobs are changing the lives of Utah's refugees

Intermountain Catholic

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Brittani McLeod, job developer at Catholic Community Services, and Mohammed Fateh, a refugee client, were among those who attended the World Refugee Day event in Salt Lake City. Courtesy photo/CCS

By Danielle Stamos

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s refugees have overcome some of the most harrowing experiences. Finally at peace, they dream of a home and a future for their children. The first step to achieving this "American Dream" is finding employment. This is not always an easy task and they must work hard to overcome language and cultural barriers.

"Refugees are just like you and me," says Aden Batar, refugee resettlement director for Catholic Community Services of Utah. "As a refugee myself, from Somalia, I know how finding a job and providing for your family can make all the difference in the lives of refugees who have dreamed of nothing but."

On World Refugee Day, Catholic Community Services of Utah representatives shared how they work with local businesses to ensure that every refugee who arrives in Utah is able to reach their goal of self-sufficiency. By partnering with local businesses, CCS’ Job Development team offers newly arrived refugees the contacts and skills needed to succeed in the American job market.

Natalie Gochnour from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, Pamela Okumura from the Salt Lake Chamber, and Andrew Edlt from Wal-Mart also spoke about Utah’s economic environment and how the state is making strides in the effort of employment. But it was when Rasha Al Khayro told her story of being a refugee to Utah that it became apparent that a job could mean all the difference in a refugee’s life.

Rasha and her husband left war-torn Iraq for the dream of a better future for them and their family. In her speech, Rasha described her struggles upon first arriving in Utah. The culture and language were foreign to her, but she knew she was now safe and would be able to achieve her dreams.

"When I first started looking for jobs I applied for 1,000 a day," joked Rasha, "when I finally got an interview with Utah Valley University I was so excited."

Eventually, she was hired by Utah Valley University as an education assistant.

Getting her first job was the first step to becoming self-sufficient, she said. Now, she and her husband have their own apartment and two cars and are on their way to their own American Dream.

Danielle Stamos is the PR/marketing coordinator for Catholic Community Services of Utah.