Starting anew: WashU’s Empower program helps educated refugees tackle language, career hurdles
Before they were refugees in St. Louis, they were economists, accountants, pharmacists, engineers, intelligence analysts, nurses and small business owners.
Then tragedy struck.
For many, the tragedy was a war (Ukraine, Bosnia); for some, it was the return of a repressive regime (Afghanistan). And for others, tragedy presented as a natural disaster (Turkey, Haiti), civil conflict (Syria, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo) or economic collapse (Venezuela).
Whatever the reason, they are here now, starting anew in St. Louis.
“Everyone here has a different story, but we are all here looking for better opportunity and to be a beneficial person to society,” said Enis Gokgoz, a refugee from Turkey who has an advanced degree in pedagogy and now is a teacher at Gateway Science Academy Middle School. Read more here.