'To live your dreams': Refugee given chance to become nurse through Dwyer scholars program
Belle Mukire will soon be a Dwyer Scholar. The 22-year-old was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo before fleeing as a 2-year-old to live in two refugee camps in Burundi. Then in 2019 as a 17-year-old, she and her family arrived in Austin.
Mukire's dream is to become a nurse. She has practice as a lifelong caregiver. Two of her sisters have cerebral palsy. Her father has difficulty walking and standing after being shot in the leg when one of their refugee camps was invaded. And, she has a brother, Israel, who is 2. She also recently worked at a senior living center.
After high school, Mukire started at Austin Community College by taking English language classes, but she was unable to afford the tuition to continue with school.
The Dwyer Scholar program, an initiative by nonprofit Dwyer Workforce Development, pays for people to get their certified nursing assistant certificate. It helps them find jobs, including in the senior living facilities operated by Dwyer, and it helps the scholars overcome barriers tied to transportation, childcare and other obstacles that might make completing a certification program and working difficult.
"We are helping to remove those barriers," said Natassia West, the community engagement specialist for Dwyer in Texas.
Scholars commit to a year of work in a senior living facility and then can receive scholarships to advance their health care training such as going into a nursing school program. This semester Dwyer partnered with Austin Community College to have its scholars get their CNA certification through ACC. Dwyer's first class of 14 scholars graduated ACC's CNA program in December and have begun working.
West read Mukire's story in the American-Statesman as part of the Statesman's Season for Caring program.
Each year, the Statesman highlights the needs of a dozen families nominated by local nonprofits. Money raised helps the featured families first and then helps hundreds of other families through the nonprofit organizations. The Mukires were nominated by Interfaith Action of Central Texas, which helps many refugee families in Austin.
The Mukires had big items on their wish list, such as rent assistance and a gently used car. Next on the list was college tuition for Belle Mukire to become a nurse.
On Monday, Mukire signed the paperwork to reenroll in ACC through Dwyer. If all the paperwork goes through, she'll start classes Jan. 22 and become a CNA by March. Dwyer will help her with everything from filling out all the paperwork to covering the class fees and rides to school as needed. The program can get her tutoring or English language services as well, though West told Mukire that she isn't giving herself enough credit about the language skills she has.
"The CNA program is a good way to get into health care," West explained. "The sky is the limit."
Learn more: 12 families featured in the 25th Season for Caring program. Here's how you can help.
Mukire was quiet at first and a little nervous. It's common for people not to believe they can do it or think that the Dwyer Scholars program is too good to be true, West said.
"Everyone comes in and is anxious and nervous, but at the end of it, it's 'Oh, my gosh! I did it!'" West said.
"Because it is your dream, you will succeed big time," West told Mukire. "It takes a special heart to be in health care."
Simone Talma Flowers, Interfaith Action of Central Texas' executive director, reiterated to Mukire that the organizations are committed to supporting her academic career.
"It will be great; you will be great," Flowers told Mukire. "Everyone is behind you. They want you to live your dreams."
The Mukire family still has many items on its wish list, including that gently used car, internet services, living room furniture, a TV, a laptop and a sewing machine.
To find out more about the family or to contribute an item on their wish list, contact Interfaith Action of Central Texas' refugee program at 512-386-9145 or online at interfaithtexas.org.
About Season for Caring
The Statesman will be sharing the stories of all 12 Season for Caring families throughout the holiday season. Find more stories and information at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. You can donate online or use the coupon on Page 3B and mail it to Austin Community Foundation, c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751. Make checks payable to “Statesman Season for Caring.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Dwyer scholar program gives Season for Caring refugee nursing training
