Help Clients Like Olive Continue to Thrive

As a single mom with poor health and limited job prospects, Olive has worried about how she’ll become self-sufficient since arriving in Knoxville as a refugee four years ago. 

Thanks to Bridge Refugee Services’ new Growing Refugees’ Opportunities and Wealth program, or GROW, Olive has been learning new skills she hopes will set her on her path to self-sufficiency. “What I hope is to have a lot more instruction in a lot of different areas so refugees can become self-employed or more employable with a skill such as sewing, knitting, quilting, mechanics and other skills,” said Kayla Davis, a Preferred Communities Case Manager with Bridge. 

Two Saturdays a month, Bridge clients like Olive meet at First Presbyterian to hone their skills, build confidence and social connections on their way to self-sufficiency. A new aspect of the program is the Conversation Cafe on Saturdays from 9-10:00 before the class. Volunteers and refugees visit informally over coffee just talking to improve the individual's confidence in speaking English. 

For more information about ways to support our refugee neighbors or to volunteer for the Conversation Cafe, contact Colleen Shannon at bakhom@earthlink.net or text 865-406-5233