Meet Our Clients
Get to know some of the incredible individuals we have the privilege of working with!
Meet Hodan
Hodan spent 17 years in a Djibouti refugee camp after being driven from her native Somalia amid civil war. She settled in Chicago and came to Pan-African Association in 2013, hoping to take advantage of its numerous resources, including case management, job readiness training, and ESL classes.
Through PAA, Hodan found employment at a Learning Center and is currently taking a course at Truman College. Between work, school, and raising her four young children, Hodan has also found time to cultivate hobbies and personal interests. She loves to sew and is an avid basketball player.
Through PAA, Hodan found employment at a Learning Center and is currently taking a course at Truman College. Between work, school, and raising her four young children, Hodan has also found time to cultivate hobbies and personal interests. She loves to sew and is an avid basketball player.
Meet Om
Om was born in Bhutan and fled to Nepal when she was merely one year old. She lived in a Bhutanese refugee camp for almost 20 years where she received her High School Diploma.
Om moved to Chicago in April 2015 and came to Pan-African Association shortly after. She is receiving assistance finding a job in the Customer Service area. Currently, Om is taking classes at Truman College and in her free time enjoys taking part in Bhutanese cultural dances and making new friends.
Meet Tahir
Tahir is a refugee from Senegal, in West Africa. He fled to Morocco in 2013 and lived there temporarily until his arrival to the United States, where he was resettled in Boston, MA in May 2015. In September that same year, he moved to Chicago and came to Pan-African Association soon after in order to better adapt to American culture through Adjustment and Employment services. Less than a month later he had obtain full-time employment!
In his spare time, Tahir enjoys listening to American Soul and Hip-Hop music, watching movies, and swimming.
In his spare time, Tahir enjoys listening to American Soul and Hip-Hop music, watching movies, and swimming.
Meet Harka
In 1990, Harka was forced from his ancestral home in the small Himalayan nation of Bhutan. He sought refuge in Nepal, only to be faced with harsh conditions and an environment unsuitable to raising his family. In August of 2010, Harka and his family arrived in Chicago to begin their new life. Harka worked closely with the Pan-African Association to find a job for himself and his two sons. Today, they are saving up their money, and in the next few years they hope to buy their first house.
Meet Hassanatou
Hassanatou was born in Guinea, West Africa. At age 15, she was sent to the U.S. to work as a housekeeper and nanny for a Guinean family at the embassy in New York City. In the mid 1990s, Hassanatou got married, moved to Chicago, and started her family of seven. In 2012 she came to PAA in search of employment services. Over the past few years she has passed many milestones, including attending school for the first time, learning to read and obtaining United States Citizenship.
To learn more about Hassanatou’s story, click here.
Meet Mohamed
Mohamed was born in Malaysia, where his parents fled from Burma in search of a place to safely raise their family. Mohamed arrived in Chicago in July of 2014, eager to find employment as quickly as possible. This meant working various jobs, some requiring he travel two hours each way to work! He came to Pan-African Association in April 2015 in search of a better employment option. Just a year later Mohamed obtained full-time employment where he quickly excelled and proved his hard-working nature. Now that Mohamed has a job close to home he is able to spend more time with his wife and son as well as attend English classes at Truman College.
To learn more about Mohamed, click here.
To learn more about Mohamed, click here.
Meet Mariam
Mariam was born in Burma and moved to Malaysia when she was 10 years old, due to political issues. In 2011, she was resettled with her family in North Carolina where she received her H.S. Diploma and completed her first semester of college. In February 2016, Mariam moved to Chicago with her family. A month later, she came to Pan-African Association in search of employment assistance in Customer Service. She is now planning to enroll at Truman College with the goal of becoming either a medical assistant or flight attendant. Mariam speaks 4 languages and enjoys swimming, tennis, and badminton. Mariam’s ultimate goal in life is to help others. Having volunteered at a refugee office in North Carolina, and as a refugee herself, this comes as no surprise. “I know how hard it is to have no one around to help and I want to help others so they have an easier time adjusting and getting used to a new life.”
Meet Pabi
Pabi was born and raised in a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal. She attended school in the camp until 10th grade when she and her family were resettled in Chicago. In 2014, she graduated from Sullivan High School. Pabi came to Pan-African Association in August 2015 seeking help to find a part-time customer service job. Pabi is currently enrolled in Truman College for Nursing in hopes of becoming a CNA. This ambitious young woman also dreams of one day attending cosmetology school and working as a make-up artist. In her free time, Pabi enjoys singing and dancing.
Meet Vastina
Vastina was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2007, war forced Vastina, now a widow, and her seven children to flee to a refugee camp, in Uganda. Ever resourceful, Vastina managed to continue her work as a farmer in the camp where she was able to sell some of her goods. In October 2014, they were resettled in Chicago and she came to PAA the following May. Vastina speaks 4 different languages and is currently attending upper-level ESL classes. In her free time she enjoys jogging, music, and painting. Want to learn what Vastina hopes for in the future? Take a look.
Vastina was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2007, war forced Vastina, now a widow, and her seven children to flee to a refugee camp, in Uganda. Ever resourceful, Vastina managed to continue her work as a farmer in the camp where she was able to sell some of her goods. In October 2014, they were resettled in Chicago and she came to PAA the following May. Vastina speaks 4 different languages and is currently attending upper-level ESL classes. In her free time she enjoys jogging, music, and painting. Want to learn what Vastina hopes for in the future? Take a look.
Meet Noralam
Noralam left his home in Burma as a teenager, relocating to Malaysia with his family. He lived there until 2012, when he was resettled in Chicago. In December 2015, just a year after coming to Pan-African Association, Noralam began working at PACTT Learning Center where he quickly put his natural handy-man skills to use. He was awarded "Employee of the Quarter" for January - March 2016 for his dedication and exceptional team spirit. Keep up the great work, Noralam - we are proud of you!
Noralam left his home in Burma as a teenager, relocating to Malaysia with his family. He lived there until 2012, when he was resettled in Chicago. In December 2015, just a year after coming to Pan-African Association, Noralam began working at PACTT Learning Center where he quickly put his natural handy-man skills to use. He was awarded "Employee of the Quarter" for January - March 2016 for his dedication and exceptional team spirit. Keep up the great work, Noralam - we are proud of you!
Meet Dusabe
In 1997, at the age of 36 and pregnant with her second child, Dusabe’s life was changed forever. The war in Congo, fueled by political and tribal tensions, forced her family to flee to bordering Rwanda. She lived with her family in the Gihembe refugee camp until they were resettled to the US in 2014. The following year, Dusabe came to Pan-African with the desire to improve her English skills and utilize PAA's Case Management and Health & Wellness services. Since then, she's become much more confident in her communication skills, always eager and ready to show off her improving English abilities. Dusabe's also become more comfortable getting around town on her own – and even travels to different states! She has found a family at Pan-African Association and gained the confidence and resources needed to tackle any challenge that comes her way. To read Dusabe's full story, click here.
Meet Yvette
Yvette was born in Congo and eventually fled to Burundi as a refugee due to instability from rebel groups within the region. During her years in Burundi, she worked in her business and in teaching. Unfortunately, instability eventually hit Burundi as well and Yvette was resettled in Chicago in 2015 by the UNHCR. When Yvette first arrived in Chicago,...Read more of Yvette's story here