In 2020, Oumou Sakho traded in her baking mitts to spread kindness in an alternative way. This was the year she began her position at the Refugee Dream Center. Sakho works at the Refugee Dream center as a refugee case worker for their newly established Reception and Placement program. Her inspiration for her work comes from her genuine love for helping others and watching them succeed.
Sakho came to the United States in 2008 from West Africa after marrying her husband. Although she did not come to the US as a refugee, she was inspired to help others adjust to a new cultural experience which can be a challenging task. After working in a bakery for over ten years, Sakho pursued a certificate in social services at CCRI, seeking a job that would allow for more personal work—and this certificate made that possible. Through her studies at CCRI, she landed an internship at DREAM. When asked about her role she explained “During my internship, I assisted with various tasks such as bookkeeping and helping community members with case management services”. Sakho explained that she worked as an intern at DREAM for about a year before she was offered a position in their brand new Reception and Placement program. She enthusiastically explained that she became the first refugee case worker for this program.
Refugee Dream Center is a nonprofit that works to help refugees with placement and reception after they have relocated to the United States. Their services include health management, language, food, housing, hygiene product distribution, and cash assistance. They also provide employment, legal and case management services. All of this works to help to achieve their goal of cultivating a culturally diverse community and forming a home away from home for refugees.
Sakho's job consists of many important roles that help new Americans and refugees adjust to daily life. These tasks include daily living experiences such as finding housing, applying for food stamps and figuring out childcare. Another piece of her work is helping individuals navigate the healthcare system and better understand insurance and services where they live. Sakho explains that her work helps people to navigate their new life in general, “Sometimes people need help with small tasks such as taking the bus”, she explains “We can help them to settle in and navigate their new life around the city”. Sakho is also a certified community health worker which enhances her ability to aid people with their health related needs.
When asked about her favorite part of her job Sakho shared that she likes being the first person others go to when they need help. “I like watching people grow”, she says “Seeing them out in their daily life doing well is very good and rewarding”. Oumou Sakho's dedication to her work not only exemplifies her commitment to health equity, but also to the well-being of others. At Wheelhouse, we are proud to collaborate with individuals like Oumou who help others navigate the challenges of the healthcare system.
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