From Refugee to Renewal 

The United Nations estimates that more than 117 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, many of whom are seeking refugee status. Uprooted from their homes, refugees often face immense hunger, lack proper medical care, and are at the mercy of unreliable housing. They live in a state of constant uncertainty; the pain and anxiety of being forced from one’s home are unparalleled forms of human suffering. Their dignity denied; they are often subjected to human rights abuses. 

In 2023, Luis left his home country due to persecution and abuse and sought a new life here in the Greater Washington region. 

“My journey to the United States was not simply about moving to another country; it was about surviving and starting over after experiencing some of the most difficult moments of my life,” said Luis. 

Upon arriving, he was connected to the Catholic Charities DC’s Refugee Social Services, and it was there that many of his difficulties began to ease. 

“After arriving in this country, several organizations helped me feel safe and supported, but Catholic Charities DC became one of the most important parts of my journey. For more than three years, they have supported me with food, clothing, job information, emotional support, and, most importantly, dignity and respect.” 

With housing, food, and clothing provided, Luis was able to secure a job and find financial stability while feeling secure and safe as he made his way in his new home. 

Like Luis, Akello, who grew up in southwestern Uganda, faced oppression back home. He fled to the United States in 2024 hoping to find safety and stability.

“The greatest challenge I faced was getting a job,” said Akello. “I was helped by volunteers from a local church, who introduced me to Catholic Charities DC. Catholic Charities helped me get SNAP benefits and health insurance in D.C. They also helped me with clothes and gift cards to buy books.”

With support from Catholic Charities DC and through his own hard work and perseverance, he plans on becoming a registered nurse in the coming years.

For Jeanne, who survived armed conflict in her native Bangui in the Central African Republic, her journey to the greater Washington, D.C., region was long and arduous.

“I fled to Congo-Brazzaville with my entire family and lived in a refugee camp, where the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees supported us for more than 12 years.”

After over a decade of living in a refugee camp, she was able to make her way to the United States, first to Texas and then Washington, D.C., where she found support through Catholic Charities. Now she has a safe place to rebuild her life and start anew.

Stories like those of Luis, Akello, and Jeanne are why we at Catholic Charities DC remain committed to people seeking protection and support. We believe that people forced to flee should not be returned to danger, and that all displaced persons deserve to live with dignity. 

Through our comprehensive, holistic social services, we offer case management assistance, employment services, and, most importantly, hope to individuals and families as they seek to make a new, more stable start in the United States.