Salim is our Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS) Program participant of the month. Before Salim had to flee his homeland due to persecution, he had worked as a translator for the United States government. Salim and his wife made the trek to America over a year ago.
He has always been open and honest with our RIS employment team sharing his struggles from his war-stricken country and even the hardships he has faced in the United States. However, his affable personality and easygoing attitude made him an easy character to get along with.
Walmart recognized his work ethic and hired him full-time in the toy department. Although his current position is not Salim’s ideal job, he is okay with it for now because it helps supplement his family’s income. Because of his fluency in English and access to a car, many people rely on him for interpretation and a ride. We have never heard him complain about this and he shares that he sees the requests as an opportunity to help his community – “to pay it forward”.
His job placement demonstrates that he had to start his career over but accepts that this is what he must do. Salim’s attitude is humbling and is a great example for other program participants who are struggling to accept an imperfect job.
