Refugee Finds New Life in Pennsylvania

I came to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in March of 2012 with three other single men from the prison in Djibouti, Eritrea. I was 24 at the time. I knew no English but was eager to learn and begin my life anew.  I had escaped forced military conscription in my country twice by a dangerous border crossing.  I was captured and deported back to my country where I was imprisoned.  But I was accepted for resettlement into the United States and eventually got here to Harrisburg.  I began working long hours in a food processing plant and saved money in order to begin studying English at the university.

I know enough English now to attend a community college.  I study full time and work part time in order to pay tuition and my rent.  I am very involved in a local Eritrean church and lead Bible studies.  I would like to work as a pastor or perhaps teach school when I graduate.  I am grateful to all the people in this community who have helped me and who continue to be a friend to me.

The CWS staff helped me a lot in the beginning, and now I sometimes interpret for new Eritreans who come.  My life is very different now because in Eritrea life was very hard.  The government takes all the young men and puts them into military barracks and they are not able to work.  But now I can work and even send some money back to my family.

Storyteller: Zemichael Gebretadik , United States