“I’m not sure I can do this, I don’t speak English very well.”
Khadiga was very anxious. This would be her first job interview in her new home and she was still learning English.
She had submitted the application to work at the local packaging company just a week before and was surprised to receive the call for an interview.
Luckily for Khadiga, AmeriCorps ACCESS Member Nozipho was there to help.
“I’ll go with you to the interview. I am here for you,” Nozipho said.
After her husband began driving trucks long-distance, Khadiga and her two young children moved into her sister’s two-bedroom apartment in the Legacy Crossing neighborhood. Khadiga wanted to contribute more financially so she went to the center for help. That is where she met Nozipho.
Nozipho assisted her in filling out the job application and drove her to the interview. Along the way Nozipho shared words of support and encouragement. This was exactly what Khadiga needed. She got the job!
Now, Khadiga is able to attend school in the morning, take her children to their various appointments, and work in the afternoon.
“It has been such a joy to see the amount of happiness Khadiga portrayed as she thanked me for assisting her. This helped me realize that I am serving for a purpose.”
For Nozipho, giving back means service. It means reciprocating the favors and blessings that she and her family experienced when they first arrived, and it means developing long lasting relationships that are mutually beneficial.
When Nozipho and her family came to Greensboro as refugees from Zimbabwe, they received assistance from AmeriCorps members and attended programs at one of the CNNC’s community centers. After graduating from UNC Greensboro in May, Nozipho knew she wanted to give back.
In September, Nozipho became an AmeriCorps ACCESS member serving as an Employment Case Manager. Each day, Nozipho aids clients in completing job applications, building resumes, and supporting individuals coping with economic instability, individuals like Khaidga.
In this season of giving, you too can give back!
For every Khadiga, there are others out there looking for the right tools and support to become self-sufficient. You can impact their lives! Make a donation today.
The holidays and the end of the year are a time when many of us are moved to give. Giving Tuesday, Nov. 27th, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is a global day of giving following the shopping events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Read more about our Giving Tuesday and year end campaign and the ways you can impact the lives of our newest neighbors during this difficult time.