By Eric Tegethoff, Public News Service - ID
A new program in Boise is helping young men who have arrived in the United States as refugees. The mentoring project, run by the nonprofit group “Economic Opportunity” helps men ages 18 to 25 with the transition into adulthood and American culture.
Project manager Moses Mukengezi understands the transition -- he came to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo as a refugee in 2007.
"Some of them come from single parent families or they're the only child or they're the oldest and they have to take care of their sick mom and siblings," he points out. "So having someone to be there to show you how you can get resources and how you can help out your family is really critical."
One participant in the program, Hubert, who prefers to go by his first name only, grew up in a refugee camp in Zambia and is 23 years old. He is in the program to learn more about business, and says that the program participants are proud to be in the United States. Hubert says he wants the mentees to teach the mentors about the mentees' experiences as well- "To open that door of conversation and offer understanding and for them to learn about you as well -- I feel like that's going to bridge the gap," he states.
To learn more about this program or the nonprofit organization who is sponsoring it, visit https://eojannus.org or call 208-336-5533.
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