ASIAN ASSOCIATION OF UTAH NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As the diversity and quantity of trafficked persons, immigrants, and refugees increase, AAU names a veteran non-profit leader to replace retiring Dr. Shu Cheng. Salt Lake City, UT, February 21, 2023– The Asian Association of Utah (AAU), serving the...
In 2011, Vestine began a new life in Utah with her 5 children. She arrived in the U.S. fleeing war in Burundi, though Vestine had already experienced war and genocide in Rwanda and Congo as well. Her husband died in those wars and two of...
Yusuf was born in Somalia. As his country was in turmoil, he and his family fled to Kenya as refugees in 2013. After 8 years in Kenya, Yusuf was given the chance to move to Utah in 2011. Once in Utah, Yusuf lived in a foster...
Radhika lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for over 20 years before arriving in Utah in 2010. Radhika loves Utah and the opportunities there are here. Both she and her husband have jobs and their three children have all acclimated successfully, and are doing...
Hassatou is a new immigrant in Utah. She arrived with her three sons in May 2013. She grew up in Guinea on a farm with her parents and four siblings. Hassatou enjoyed helping her parents on the farm alongside her siblings. None of them had...
Born and raised in refugee camps had a huge impact on Liberata and her life. She was born in a refugee camp in Congo to Burundi refugees. They both died when Liberata was very young so she does not remember much about them except that...
Thuli was born in Bhutan in 1968. Her family was forced to evacuate the country when she was 19 years old. Thuli to this day doesn’t know the official reason for leaving. “In Bhutan they categorize people into number groups 1-7. If you’re in group...
Samira immigrated to the U.S. from Iran when she was 14. Initially, she struggled to fit in at school. One teacher befriended Samira and taught her about American culture. Thanks to this friendship, Samira began to enjoy life in the United States. Today, Samira is thriving as she works...
When Mohammed arrived in Utah, he was suffering from kidney failure and in desperate need of a kidney transplant. Mohammed's case manager, Kossi, is a former refugee and was a surgeon in his native country. Kossi used his expertise to connect Mohammed to vital medical treatment....
In response to civil unrest in Bhutan, eight-year old Mukti Bhurtel and his family fled to Nepal with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Leaving behind their old lives, they found refuge in Beldangi Refugee Camp. While in Beldangi, Mukti attended school and was quickly singled out as...