At the age of twenty, Esther experienced the loss of her brother due to conflict in her homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Seeking refuge, she spent 17 years in a Tanzanian refugee camp. According to Esther’s account, life there proved to be extremely challenging with limited opportunities to earn money and secure sufficient food for her family. In 2013, Read More »
Abdi Haji – Umoja Na Uhuru World Farm
If you’ve been to Boise’s Capital City Public Market, you’ve probably seen Abdi Haji of Umoja Na Uhuru World Farm. A refugee from Somalia, Abdi has been growing organic vegetables in the Treasure Valley since 2006, first with the Somali Bantu Community Farm in Eagle, then through Global Gardens, a program of the Idaho Office for Refugees. When Abdi decided Read More »
Valentine (Yao) Sessou-Djokotu – Valentino’s Hair Cut Up
Valentine Sessou-Djokutu came to the US from Togo after spending seven years in a refugee camp in Benin. He arrived with his wife and three children in March of 2007 already possessing 24 years experience as a barber. After attending Boise Barber College, he received a license and a certificate. EO helped him sublease a space from another EO client, Read More »
Hasan Abdulkareem – Adem’s Auto Sales
Hasan Abdulkareem left Iraq at 12 years of age and came to the US with his mother and brother after nine years in Jordan. Although he is nearing completion of a Civil Engineering degree at Boise State University, his love for cars has kept him involved with his business, Adem’s Auto Sales. EO was able to help him with a Read More »
Sundus Tawfeeq – Babylon Market
Family is important to Sundus Tawfeeq. Her love for her family, which includes four children, is evident in the cheerful environment of her store, Babylon Market. A visit to Babylon Market reveals a clean, colorful and welcoming atmosphere filled with bright colors and exotic foods and products from the Middle East. But for Sundus, Babylon Market is more than just Read More »
Tino Silva – Intermountain Construction and Abatement
Tino Silva, owner of Intermountain Construction and Abatement, is living proof of the “American Dream. With EO’s help, a relationship with Zions Bank was built that ultimately helped him secure an SBA 7(a) loan and purchase the business at which he had worked for the past eight years. The previous owner of the company was ready to retire and thought Read More »
Horacio Castillo – Janitzio Restaurant
Horacio Castillo has owned Janitzio Restaurant for nine years and runs it with his family. Recently the owner of the building where their restaurant formerly resided informed Horacio that she did not intend to renew their lease. So Horacio made plans to buy the building across the street that housed a competing restaurant, knowing that the restaurant’s owners were ready Read More »
Annonciatha Mukagasawa – Annonci’s Child Care
Annonci’s Child Care is filled with active, inquisitive kids. Annonciatha Mukagasawa has worked hard to build a friendly, comfortable place for the children in her care. Annonciatha arrived in the US from Uganda with her husband and 5 children in late 2012 and enrolled in EO’s RCBD project about a year later. She was interested in home childcare because she Read More »
