WOW November- From Refugee Camp to Success

4800 Merle Hay Road,Des Moines IA 50309

15 November, 2022

Description

Lily will share her experiences living in a refugee camp for 15 years and her journey to America as a teenager speaking no English. Lily will share her appreciation for her ESL teacher and how she helped Lily begin her new life in America as well as her love for the community around her in supporting her quest for her new business. Hope to Shine is enterprise organization created by family, for family to serve refugee and immigrant families who have resettled in the state of Iowa. specifically meets the needs of refugee family. We are family of refugees, immigrant, and non-immigrant organization, with a mission to support family’s survivors of war, conflict, and displacement in overcoming cultural and systemic barriers to achieving healthy, loving environment, mindset, self-sufficient, awareness and contributions fulfilling lives. Our partners, funders, donors, and volunteers are vital to the success of Hope to Shine Enterprise. With your support, we will work to equip countless families ‘survivors of war to thrive and contribute to their new country. Your charitable donation to Hope to Shine (HTS) goes a long way to support our work on behalf of refugee families. HTS offers opportunities to sponsor individuals, families, and groups at a range of contribution levels. All contributions to HTS are tax-deductible. Social Adjustment - Family Self-Sufficiency Planning - Coordinating Basic Needs of Families Economic Empowerment - English Language Training Referral -Sponsor a Family One Month - Driving training -Job Orientation & Placement - Citizenship & Immigration - Green Card Application Process - U.S. Citizenship Application Process Phone: 515-650-4455 Email: [email protected] Coming to America at the age of 15 Lilian “Lily” Okech, started high school in the United States speaking no English. She learned the alphabet while in the 9th grade and within months was on her way to speaking and writing English while identifying her passion and deep-routed need to help others. Lilian was born in Kitgum, Uganda in a refugee camp a few months after her family fled from South Sudan. Over the years Lilian faced many health struggles with limited food sources and lack of clean water. Through it all she learned to place her trust and belief in God’s plan for her life. She knows the life of a refugee, that of a transplant who has lost family members, best friends, and her home. Within two years in U.S, Lilian found herself pregnant and married at a young age. After living in an abusive relationship for ten years, she escaped that situation and found herself alone with four boys. Needing to support her family, she started cleaning at a local church. Soon, people noticed her dedication and started asking for her to clean their homes. Lilian was known for doing good work, and soon she had many clients. Lilian realized that through cleaning, she was able to help people, which was her heart and passion. In 2018 Lilian founded Cleaning for Hope. Through Cleaning for Hope, Lily strives to provide community support for those who may not have a friend to talk to. A family to run to. And for those who may need shelter, food, clothes, bibles, and so much more – just like she did. Lilian called herself as bridges to teach people, who are non-refugees and refugees to understand and loved one other, Lilian truly believes, if we can take time to know each other, the world will be must better place to lives. It doesn’t matter where we come from. It matter how you should leave the world. Lilian is a Motivational Speaker Entrepreneur Author Teacher Visionary Collaborative author two Time Amazon #1 bestselling books, and Co-found of Bother Tech Community Organization, an internet-café, and Computer Training, to help bring Internet Services and computer training closer to people of South Sudan. Her goal is to help build internet cafés for local schools to help the local population, increase their knowledge with computers, the internet, and computer training, and connect to the World Wide Web. Their goal is to change South Sudan in the advancement of technology. The goal is to motivate younger women and men to pursue their goals. Thank you to our November Sponsor Angela Veatch!