Fellowship Highlight: Building Livelihoods for Immigrants and Refugees
This update was shared by Shouly Chann, Cycle 1 YSEALI PFP Economic Empowerment Fellow from Cambodia.
I’m currently placed with The Village Institute in Northwest Aurora, Denver, Colorado, which is a live/learn/work center for refugee and immigrant families, with a focus on single mother families. The core programs are 1) the Housing Program for Single Mothers and 2) Early childhood education program for young children (from 1-6 years old) and 3) Essential Career Program (one month program which includes job readiness, mental health skills in mental health first aid, while also helping them build critical job skills in facilitation, navigation, and case management). I primarily participated in the Essential Career Program by introducing and integrating my employer’s tool kit, which I used in my program in Cambodia to assist youth in selecting a job that best matches their skills and abilities.
Shouly visiting Friendship Bridge Social Enterprise Shop with Jennifer L Thompson to discuss their program in Guatemala, which supports 30,000 indigenous women by providing them with loans to start small businesses.
The YSEALI PFP program is a life-changing experience for me. My personal and professional development would be aided by the acquisition of numerous new skills and insights. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate directly with a powerful woman executive director who oversees a significant program to assist disadvantaged refugee women and children. I could see and learn about her path to directorship, leadership ability, capacity to raise funds, direct the program, and manage the staff, as well as her desire for helping other women who are struggling in life. I believe that this is a great source of motivation and a valuable lesson that will help me reach my goal of becoming a director of a social enterprise in my home country. Living with a host family allowed me to obtain a deeper grasp of American culture, political situation, and daily living. This could provide me with new insight for adapting to a new environment or establishing positive relationships with American supervisor, donors, colleagues, and friends.