of surviving and recovering from forced displacement.
“When you are in the process of seeking asylum, it’s as if nobody wants you here.” This was Stephen’s experience when he first arrived in the United States having fled persecution in his country of origin. “It was very, very scary.”
Thankfully, Stephen found safe, stable shelter and supportive community at IAFR Jonathan House. Originally trained as a medical doctor in his home country, Stephen took it upon himself to learn computer coding while in the asylum process. After two years at Jonathan House, Stephen has moved on into a new career as a computer coder with Cisco. “I was able to use Jonathan House’s resources to forge another path,” Stephen says. “This is something I am always grateful and proud of.”
In honor of World Refugee Day on June 20th, International Association for Refugees (IAFR) did a video interview with Stephen. He reflects on his story of having to rebuild his future in the wake of forced displacement.
We’re so honored at IAFR Jonathan House to walk with people like Stephen, to learn hope and resilience, compassion and kindness, mercy and justice from those who have risked it all to find a safe place to call home.
Watch Stephen’s interview to get an in-depth look into the life-changing impact your partnership with Jonathan House makes.