Stories

Paw Shee loves to read, especially books that teach her about “what happened in the past.” And on her journey to becoming a citizen, citizenship classes became a platform that fueled that desire to learn.

“I love to read the books they gave me about U.S. history,” Paw said, emphasizing, “they gave me whole books!”

Paw recently completed two citizenship courses with two different instructors. Both commended her hard work and her ability to read in English.

“She could read English very well, she always had her homework done,” recalled Susan Llewellyn, Paw’s instructor during her second round of classes, “she always read everything for each assignment.” Sometimes, Paw would be chapters ahead of the assigned reading.  

Despite her love for reading and compliments from both of her teachers, however, she expressed concern about her English skills. She wants to be “treated like a citizen,” viewed by others without judgement or fear. For Paw, citizenship means a different way to be seen.

“I wanted to be seen like I am a citizen when I go somewhere. If they question, ‘are you a citizen?’ I want to answer yes,” Paw said.

Llewellyn believes that understanding refugees’ personal circumstances helps to eliminate fear. She always asks her students to share their stories, because “what you hear on the news may be different than what you hear from a refugee.” Paw chose to share her own story in Llewellyn’s class.

She and her family sought refuge in the U.S. in 2014, shortly after faith-based persecution and violence began to escalate in their country of origin, Myanmar. They journeyed outside of the refugee camp they had been living in for the freedom to “go anywhere and practice whatever [they] want.”

Her resettlement was life-changing, and the diligence it took to make the journey followed Paw through her classes. She remained dedicated to learning even as a mother of three during last year’s shift to remote technology.

“She’s a mom, and she was a really good student. . .  her kids would be there with her during classes,” Llewellyn said, “she took it seriously and was always prepared.” Paw adapted to remote class technology and completed round two of her classes with ease. Her work ethic, coupled with an innate need to learn about the world around her, drove her straight to her goal.

“I passed the citizenship test,” she said, “My oath ceremony is on July 14th.”

The oath ceremony is the final step in the citizenship process, where participants swear their allegiance and receive their naturalization certificates. It’s symbolic in its representation of hard work, reward, and the obstacles they’ve overcome in their path to citizenship.

After the ceremony, Paw plans to go back to school when she has the time. Her goals are to work on her English skills through ESL classes and complete a highschool education. She’s kept in touch with both of her instructors, to whom she has repeatedly expressed a deep gratitude.

“She’s written to me several times since. She texted me and said she passed the test, got them all right, and thanked me for helping her. She let me know she was grateful,” Llewellyn said.

Paw Shee took a risk in choosing to better herself in the face of fear. And just as she built her future through an innate desire to learn about the past, her own story will serve to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.

“I am feeling so blessed and thankful that the American government welcomes our refugees and lets people come and live here in America. Finally, I am so proud to be an American Citizen,” she said. 

Written by Erica Parrigin

Living in Burundi during the Civil War, Francois spent much of his life in fear. He was constantly immersed in the struggle of “two ethnicities fighting against each other.” In December of 1996, he was relocated to a Tanzanian refugee camp with little access to water or electricity. In the context of all he had experienced, safety seemed impossible. He felt frustrated and hopeless as the years passed.

“I don’t remember anything good,” he said. “It was all bad.”

Francois spent ten years in the camp, and it wasn’t until 2006 that he was given an opportunity to resettle. He was welcomed by another agency in San Diego, California. Though grateful to finally be in the US, he began to feel overwhelmed. Everything was newer. He was able to communicate with others through limited English, but he didn’t know how to get around and found it difficult to meet his new hygiene standards. He wasn’t sure how to interact with the culture.

Laughing, he recalled, “I had this idea that I was going to get money from any person I met.”

Even after going to school and becoming fluent in the language, Francois was missing another key element of a stable life in his new country. He didn’t have his citizenship. As his path toward security landed him in the Quad Cities, he found World Relief. WRQC provided the outside support that allowed him to express his concerns without fear. Eventually, with the help of WRQC, he was able to obtain his citizenship. And that’s not all.

“My wife got citizenship through World Relief. My kid got citizenship through World Relief,” he added.

Becoming a US citizen was the last major step in Francois’ journey, allowing him to become fully self-sufficient. He began to focus on the things he enjoys without worry. Because he has always “enjoyed working with people of different cultures,” he grew interested in helping other refugees. He saw a chance to help others overcome situations like his when WRQC contacted him and asked him to be an interpreter.

Today, he’s restoring faith and creating lasting change for the immigrants and refugees that visit WRQC by helping to ease the language barrier. He hopes to spread the peace he now feels after years of uncertainty. The Quad Cities has become his home, and he finally feels “safe.”

Written by Erica Parrigin

In honor of the recently increased refugee cap, we’re sharing stories from some of the brave Quad Cities refugees and immigrants who strive to create a community of welcome for those following in their footsteps. Together, we can [Re]Build. 

Mbanzamihigo “Abe” Ibrahim’s first memory of the U.S. is of fireworks. “It was two days away from the Fourth of July. I had never seen, experienced, or even heard of fireworks,” he recalls. On that day, he was blessed with a sense of hope that would last a lifetime.

Abe’s family was granted asylum in the U.S. when he was just ten years old. He had always dreamed of a way to make his mark on the world. But having been “basically born” in a Tanzanian refugee camp, he was never asked what he wanted to do when he grew up. His family was focused on survival.

“I would be done with high school, but probably wouldn’t be doing anything with my life,” he said.

When his family’s case finally made it off the waiting list, Abe was scared. The music, the food, the language – all of that was about to change.

With a little encouragement, Abe’s fear turned into passion. Sometimes, the question “What do you want to do with your life?” is just as important as a safe and accepting environment.

After World Relief Quad Cities helped Abe’s family settle into their new home, he re-enrolled in school. Abe was finally around people who asked him about his future – the support he never realized he needed. “Like a sponge” absorbing information, he learned English in just one year.

Abe reflected the kindness he was shown and quickly began to make new friends.

“When you’re surrounded by good people, you become a good person,” Abe continued.

Most importantly, he didn’t lose touch with his culture. Though he was born in Tanzania, Abe embodies his parents’ Burundian values.

One of those values is community. By showing compassion to others, especially when they’re vulnerable, together we can build loving communities whose actions reach the hearts of everyone involved.

Abe’s main goal in life is to give young people the same support that he received when he was a child. As someone who “looks and talks like them,” he hopes to be a role model they can truly relate to.

While he pursues his psychology degree at St. Ambrose University, he works as a Preferred Community Caseworker at World Relief Quad Cities. Abe regularly shares his story at his organization’s events and is often recognized for his speaking roles at their March 2021 Gala and recent partnership with the Putnam Museum, The Colors of Culture exhibit.  

He also holds a platform that advocates for the success of Burundi children, hoping to visit one day and tell them how much they have to offer.

“I want to show them how big the world is,” he said. 

From fear and uncertainty to inspiring and educating others, Abe has remained kind and courageous – he will always find more to offer.

Written by Erica Parrigin

In honor of the recently increased refugee cap, we’re sharing stories from some of the brave Quad Cities refugees and immigrants who strive to create a community of welcome for those following in their footsteps. Together, we can [Re]Build. 

When Dim was a child, her father had to leave Myanmar to work in another country. It was the only way for her family to obtain a survivable income. Today, minimum wage in Myanmar is 4,800 kyat, or $3.00 US. It was even less when Dim was growing up. She felt discouraged as she watched her loved ones labor away in exhausting rural jobs that left them unable to afford necessities like food and medical care.

 “In Myanmar, it’s hard there. Even if you work hard you don’t get paid a lot. We didn’t see a lot of other people because we lived in a small town. We had narrow-minded people. There was nobody to dream,” she said.

But Dim has always been a dreamer. She imagined a future where she could take care of her family and friends.

Her parents thought about her education while they worked. Determined to help their daughter achieve her dreams, they moved to Malaysia and enrolled her in school for the first time.

When Dim entered high school, however, her opportunities were interrupted. She couldn’t continue her schooling unless they moved again. The family knew the transition wouldn’t be easy, but they refused to accept the “this is how it will always be” mindset that was so common in their previous home.

In 2016, they decided to permanently resettle in the US. Dim was amazed to see the welcoming crowd at the airport and knew everything was about to change.

“World Relief Quad Cities made sure we had food and furniture. When we got here, everything was already in our house. They helped us to go to the doctor, taught us how to use everything, how to go somewhere, and they even taught my mom how to take a bath,” she recalled. She quickly understood English with the help of a caseworker who visited her house and began to excel in her high school classes.

The college education that had been just out of Dim’s reach suddenly became a reality when she was accepted to Augustana. She plans to major in chemistry and hopes to become a dentist. For Dim, dentistry illustrates what it means to “love thy neighbor.” Her neighbors in Myanmar never knew dental care existed.

“We didn’t know what dentistry was, but when I came here, World Relief Quad Cities helped me get dental care. If I become a dentist, I’m going to help people back in my country.”

With her brightness and enthusiasm finally given room to grow, Dim has embodied a mission to rebuild the lives of the vulnerable. She can’t wait to inspire joy and confidence by bringing new smiles to small communities like the Myanmar town she once felt restricted by.

Ultimately, she wants to show others that there’s more to life than survival.

“I still have a lot to learn, but everything is better now,” she added. With the days of draining physical labor behind them and goals to look forward to, Dim and her family are no longer just surviving – they’re thriving.

Written by Erica Parrigin