A NOTE OF THANKS:

In Fall 2020, Women on the Border launched an emergency relief campaign for a teenager migrant from Guinea, a country in West Africa.    Mamadou is here legally as a refugee.  The bit of financial help he received was put to good use.  Below is an update report from his AISD English teacher Jill Brady, who asked if Women on the Border could help. 

Dear Women on the Border:  I wanted to take a moment to update you about my former student, Mamadou. Mamadou was generously given some funds from Women on the Border and those funds have had a big impact on his life. 

Mamadou recently turned 18 and aged out of the children’s shelter where he had been staying. He has managed to find a room in a centrally located apartment and has prepaid the first five months’ rent through the apartment office. He has a job in a restaurant and has been very responsible getting to work every day. The location of his apartment will give him access to busses and other transportation to continue to be able to work. 

Mamadou recently procured a state ID, which took several months of diligence. The process is complicated by COVID and several times he was turned away due to problems with his supporting documents. The lack of an ID had been a major hurdle in many endeavors. 

He recently submitted his FAFSA* and completed an application for Austin Community College. He says that he would like to become a social worker to help children going through what he went through. He is waiting for transcripts from his country, but would like to begin at ACC as soon as he is able. 

I was impressed with Mamadou’s responsibility with the funds he received as help from donors, which he only used when necessary to facilitate his goal of finding adequate and safe housing. 

Thank you again for believing in this young man and helping him to stand on his own two feet. 

Best,

Jill Brady

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*FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid for attendance at a college or university.