I Will Work with Refugees for the Rest of My Life. They are Such Good People.
Finding joy in helping others by providing transportation, translation, and coaching soccer.
My name is Claude Ruhereshwa. I’m from Tanzania in East Africa. In my family there are four children. I’m the only boy.
My daddy was born in DRC Congo, and my mom was born in Israel. But I was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania called Nyarugusu. I was in that country for 16 years.
Growing up in a camp was very hard, because we had to depend on donations all the time. So if they didn’t give us food, or all of that stuff, we would be hungry.
I went to school there as well. And so I was in 10th grade before I came to the USA. Education in the refugee camp was not that good and it was not that bad, it was just in the middle. In US culture, they have to provide food for students, but not over there. So you have to wake up in the morning, and then spend like six hours, eight hours without eating anything. I consider that one of the biggest challenges.
We played soccer in the camp. I love playing soccer. Soccer is one of the best events. I like to watch it and play as well.
When we left the camp to come to the USA I was still young, only 16. When my dad told me that we are about to go to another country, I was so happy. When I was watching a movie, I saw tall buildings. I wondered, is that where we are going to be living? I was so happy about it.
First we went to California. We spent two years there. We didn’t like life over there. Life was very, very expensive. We used to have two bedrooms and, you know, we are six people. I used to sleep on the couch so my sisters could have the rooms.
If we stayed there, we wouldn't have done anything. We came here to find opportunity, but living in California, we couldn’t do anything. I spent one year without having a job, just depending on food stamps. So we chose to move to Bowling Green. I was 18.
At first, I didn’t like it. If you’ve been in one place for almost a year, you’re going to have friends, and know a lot about that place. Moving to another state is like moving from Africa to the USA. It’s a totally new thing. But when I got here and started school, I thought, this is the right place, because when I got here, I went to high school. In California, they already kicked me out of high school because I was 18. But when I get here, they have one school called Geo International High School. So they keep you until you turn 21. So that’s where I get my high school diploma. Then after that, I went to SKYCTC Community College. So I got my associate degree in International Affairs. I love working with immigrant people. That’s why I’m working with Refuge Bowling Green.
At first, I was not working with refugees. My dad was. One day my dad told me they’re looking for a driver and a person who can work with kids to teach them how to play soccer and all of that stuff. I thought, Okay, I can do that. I’d been working in a company for a couple years. I was so happy to find the opportunity to work with refugees. That’s one thing I love to do. So now I’m providing transportation. Also, if they need someone to translate, to interpret, I’ll always be there for them.
When we got to California, there was not so much help. They have one organization called Catholic Community Charities, but they didn’t provide a lot of things. After six months, they just leave us to depend on ourselves. But here I can see Refuge Bowling Green is helping, especially these people from Afghanistan. When we came here, we didn’t receive all of these good things they are receiving. Refuge Bowling Green helps for five years. And even at the end of the five years, they don’t cut them off. It’s a program for your first five years to get really settled.
When I transport people around, at first it’s hard because you can’t easily communicate when you don’t speak their language. They don’t know if they can trust you.
You have to make sure when they come in the bus, you have to show your smiling face so they feel comfortable. So you smile, greet them, all of that stuff.
Working with the soccer club with these kids is so amazing! We do a lot of stuff–it’s not only soccer. So like yesterday, we were playing volleyball. We teach them how to do lots of activities, not only soccer. Sometimes we can play volleyball, basketball. So they have to know all of that stuff. That’s what we do here.
I want to go back to school to finish my two more years, because an associate degree is not enough. I have to go back to school to get, I don’t know, bachelor, or masters. That’s my goal. I’m planning to do that next year.
But I will continue working with refugees until the end of my life. They are such good people. They take care of you. And when something happens, they’ll always be there for you.
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