A Small loan Can Make a Big Difference.

Emergency Loans - John smiling

2020 was a hard year for a lot of people, including John. After losing his partner, John was barely able to cover his monthly expenses. He had no one to lean on with the exception of his dog, who provided consummate love and support. Then, John’s dog fell ill very suddenly. In a desperate attempt to keep his companion alive Read More »



The Road Ahead

Gisma Hassan smiling

Gisma arrived in the United States with her three children only a year ago. She faced many challenges to start her new life here as a single mother with no family support in the US. Within a year of arriving in the U.S she was working full time. However Gisma did not know how to drive and did not own Read More »



Small Loan Helps Create Opportunity

Emergency Loans - Jacob grinning

Applicants for emergency EO loan funds, like Jacob, often come to us in a state of rebuilding. After completing a period of incarceration, Jacob worked full-time at a fast food restaurant until he was injured. The injury forced him to take a leave of absence. Jacob had a place to live at a halfway house, however the loss of income Read More »



A life-changing loan

Emergency Loans - Susan smiling

Nearing 80 years old, Susan found herself falling into a financial hole. After a predatory mortgage tore through Susan’s finances, she found herself experiencing homelessness for the first time in her life. Her only income was her social security, and she did not have a safety net. Unable to find a place to move into due to credit problems, Susan Read More »



Meet John Nahimana from Burundi

Headshot of John Nahimana

Since he was a teenager, John has always known he was good at cutting hair. He got his start helping his brother trim hair at a salon in Malawi when he was very young. Now, 17 years later, John is achieving his dream of opening his own full-service salon here in America. Called He & She Salon, John’s shop is Read More »



The Ingredients to Start a New Life and Restaurant

Photo Salam Bunyan of Tarbush Kitchen

Meet Salam Bunyan from Baghdad Salam Bunyan is an expert chef. He grew up in Iraq experimenting with different flavors and combining ingredients. He lived and worked around food in Iraq — including serving as a chef at a five-star restaurant in Baghdad — until 2006, when war forced him to leave his native country. In the early ‘90s, Salam Read More »



Hana is Fulfilling Her Dream

Hana in front of Food Land Market

Hana grew up in Baghdad, where food, groceries, and bakeries were always a family affair for her. Both her grandmother and mother owned stores there, and she and her brothers have fond memories of helping and playing in those stores when they were small children in Iraq. Today Hana is fulfilling her dream of having her own store. She recently Read More »



Meet Laylo from Somalia

Laylo holding two infants

Laylo was born in Somalia but grew up in Kenya. She came to Idaho in 2009 and loves it here. “Boise feels like a second home,” she says. “People are so helpful and welcoming, and we’ve made lots of friends.” Laylo experienced many ups and downs before coming to the United States, having spent 18 years in refugee camps. But Read More »



Abdi Haji – Umoja Na Uhuru World Farm

field of 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

man getting haircut from barber

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 »