Imagine leaving your home, your country, and the only life you've ever known at the age of 57. You need to learn a new language, find a job, and figure out how everything works in a new and different culture. This was the case for Ivan, a refugee from Ukraine, who recently moved to Cleveland to join his elderly parents and sister.
Ivan arrived in August 2019 and immediately began taking English classes at USCRI’s Cleveland office. He didn't miss a single class! Although he had been a locksmith in Ukraine and had experience working with metal, Ivan was worried he wouldn't find a job in the U.S. because of his age and lack of English skills. But within three months, Ivan's case managers helped him find a job powder-coating metal parts at a local company. He was thrilled.

“I’ve never been so happy in my life as when I got this job, with the help of USCRI Cleveland,” he says. “I love my job and I’m so grateful to my case managers who listened to me, appreciated my work experience, and found the right job for me. My employer treats me like family and I am thankful they gave me a chance.”
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Ivan posing with the Ukrainian flag
Ivan’s work day begins at 5 a.m. He rides his bike 20 minutes to work each day and has never been late. When asked about his future goals here in the U.S., he says, “I’ve never owned a car. It’s very difficult to get a car in Ukraine, so I’ve always traveled by bike. My dream is to own a car someday, with the help of USCRI’s IDA* program.”
We are so happy to see Ivan thriving in his new job and becoming part of his new community! With your support and USCRI's assistance, we know he'll go far.

Thank you for making a year-end gift to USCRI. Ivan is grateful - and so are we!
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*The IDA (Individual Development Account) program provides financial literacy training and a match of up to $2,000 when a refugee saves an equivalent amount toward the purchase of a car or other asset.

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