Evelyn and Michelle | San Diego

Apr 30, 2025 | California, News, Women Stories

Meet Evelyn and Michelle

Recently, with the support of a WE grant, Urban Corps of San Diego County had the privilege of assisting two dedicated Corpsmembers, Evelyn and Michelle, in purchasing their own vehicles, a transformative step for each of them as they overcame significant barriers to success. Despite coming from different backgrounds, these Corpsmembers share common challenges—particularly in accessing reliable transportation—which previously hindered their ability to fully engage in their education and work at Urban Corps.

Evelyn and Michelle had both been facing the daily struggle of waking up at 4:00 a.m. to catch the earliest trolley to arrive at Urban Corps on time. With the down payment assistance provided by the WE grant, they were each able to purchase their own car. Their new vehicles now allow them to commute comfortably, safely, and promptly, ensuring they can contribute fully to their work and education. They have even begun carpooling with other female Corpsmembers, understanding the challenges of early-morning commutes and helping others get to work on time. This act of solidarity not only strengthens the community within Urban Corps but also reflects their commitment to giving back and supporting their peers.

Having safe and reliable transportation has been a critical factor in their continued participation and success at Urban Corps. As Evelyn and Michelle near graduation, they have already expressed plans to further their education and pursue their professional development. With the independence afforded by their vehicles, they are now able to focus on their academic and career aspirations without the burden of unreliable public transportation. They are no longer limited by this barrier to success in San Diego County.

This vehicle assistance program has played a pivotal role in helping women overcome significant obstacles, enabling them to achieve their goals both at Urban Corps and beyond. We are proud to support them in their journey toward independence and success, and we look forward to hearing about their future endeavors and accomplishments!

Firoza | San Diego

Apr 29, 2025 | California, News, Women Stories

Meet Firoza from San Diego

A WE grant partner since 2022, Urban Corps of San Diego County is a nonprofit and certified local conservation corps, providing opportunities for underserved, low-income young adults ages 18-26. The unique work-learn program allows youth to finish high school while earning a paycheck, learning real-world job skills, and giving back to the community through professional services. Barriers to Corpsmembers’ success are addressed with emergency food, clothing and shelter, job training, certifications, drivers’ licenses, and one-on-one case management and trauma counseling. Corpsmembers also receive support toward their goals when they graduate through career and college readiness activities.

Not having a personal vehicle is often cited as a barrier to successful and sustained employment for Corpsmembers in San Diego County. WE grant funding helped launch a successful pilot program to provide vehicle down payment assistance for female Corpsmembers to support their success in and out of the program, setting them up for financial success and self-sufficiency after graduation.

Firoza, who has successfully completed the Urban Corps program, is preparing to welcome a baby and continue her studies in medical school after graduation. The acquisition of her own vehicle has been life-changing. It not only provides her with the means to attend medical appointments but also allows her to pursue her education uninterrupted. Prior to receiving this vehicle, Firoza faced the possibility of having to pause her studies due to transportation limitations. Now, she enjoys greater independence and is confident that she can achieve her educational and career goals. This has had a ripple effect on her family, where she is seen as a role model for her siblings, demonstrating that perseverance and determination lead to success.

Hanna | San Diego

Nov 12, 2024 | California, Featured News/ Events, Our Impact Page, Women Stories

Meet Hanna B.

When Hanna Borysiuk arrived in San Diego from Ukraine, she felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her. The war with Russia forced her to leave her homeland, and she arrived in the United States unprepared for the challenges of starting over in a foreign country. Life was confusing as she tried to figure out how to support her family in this new environment.

Hanna’s eldest daughter, understanding the depth of her mother’s skill and passion for sewing, managed to bring Hanna’s beloved Singer sewing machine from Ukraine.

Sewing had always been a constant in Hanna’s life; she couldn’t live without it. She had always altered and repaired clothes for her husband, two daughters, and two granddaughters. This act of love sparked a glimmer of hope.

Hanna learned about the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in San Diego and enrolled in several programs, including the TVESL driving lessons cohort and the employment capabilities program. Through these programs, she was referred to those funded by WE grants within the IRC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which became essential for her to start, develop, and grow her business. With the support of the IRC SBDC, Hanna completed the Business Women in Action (BWIA) training course. This cohort was designed for newly-arrived Ukrainian women aspiring to start businesses.

Hanna was considering turning her sewing skills into a viable business to support her livelihood in her new country. She describes her business advisor as a compassionate and encouraging counselor who helped her pivot her loving hobby of sewing into an entrepreneurial one. Her advisor has been with her business every step of the way to formalize her business with the City of San Diego, fulfilling her goal to alter and sew clothing for others besides her immediate family members.

Hanna advertised her services to her community and started getting orders for clothing alterations. However, she quickly realized that her single sewing machine wasn’t enough to meet the growing demand. Although Hanna could sell her services, she was not making enough to afford a new sewing machine to meet her customers’ needs. So, she returned to IRC to discuss her problem and strategize with her business advisor, who informed her that she could qualify for a women entrepreneur microgrant to purchase another machine. Hanna was overjoyed with this news. She asked her business advisor about the requirements and wasted no time, diligently working to submit all the required documents. Hanna received a $1,000 microgrant from IRC SBDC, which allowed her to purchase another sewing machine and the necessary supplies.

Hanna says, “When I received my new sewing machine, I was very happy! I could do almost everything that was brought to me for repair and make people happy because I was giving a new life to their favorite things. I am grateful to [IRC and my business advisor] for supporting me in achieving my dreams and giving me the opportunity to make a living in my new country.”

Masouma H. | San Diego

Jun 5, 2024 | California, Women Stories

Meet Masouma H.

Masouma, a resilient entrepreneur and immigrant from Afghanistan living in San Diego, has shared her inspiring journey of pursuing her goals to start a family daycare business in San Diego. With the ongoing support of WE Grant Partner, International Rescue Committee (IRC) San Diego, and its STEPS Program, part of the WE STAR programming funded by WE, Masouma received access to tools and resources to maintain and run a successful and thriving business of her own.

In 2016, after fleeing Afghanistan with her family as refugees, they resettled in San Diego. She faced numerous challenges, including language barriers and caring for her son with autism. Before immigrating to the US, Masouma had an established career in the Afghan government, where she worked in different positions with the Ministry of Education after graduating from university.

Masouma is a trained teacher and loves teaching. When she discovered the childcare business, she thought it would be a great way to channel that passion and her expertise, while still providing care for her son and having flexibility to take him to his appointments. Masouma received valuable resources, information, and technical assistance through the IRC San Diego’s STEPS Program to navigate the startup and operations of her business. The program also provided her with a stipend to purchase extra equipment and a laptop to help digitize her business.

She stated, “When I moved to the US, in the beginning, it was very challenging to navigate the process of opening and running a small daycare business, but the help of IRC and tools that they provided through programs like STEPS made it so much easier to navigate and feel confident to go through the process.”

Masouma opened her business in the fall of 2020, amid the pandemic. Like many other businesses during the pandemic, Masouma’s business struggled. She found enrolling children in her childcare program to be difficult and turned to the IRC WE STAR programs to help market her business. With the help of her IRC Business Advisor, Masouma developed a marketing plan that helped enroll six children in her childcare business and work on expanding her business with a waitlist for enrollment. She worked with IRC staff to open a Google My Business bank account, develop her social media account, and gain marketing skills to promote her business. IRC staff also helped her develop a business plan and provided other financial tools to track her budget and expenses.

Masouma’s new skills, business plans, marketing efforts, along with her love for teaching and her incorporation of activities for children to learn about Afghan culture helped to attract more families. After just over two years since starting her childcare business, she was able to buy a house and expand her business to a large childcare license and hire additional employees to help. Currently, she has 20 children enrolled in her program. Masouma is genuinely grateful for the assistance and support and highly recommends the IRC’s programs to anyone looking to start or grow their business.

Her story is a testament to the impact of the WE grant funding that helped IRC San Diego to launch and grow the WE STAR programming, which helps empowered women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Her determination and hard work, combined with the support from this program, have enabled her to overcome obstacles and build a thriving business. Masouma’s journey serves as a reminder of the resilience and potential within immigrant communities. It highlights the importance of providing resources and support to help them succeed in their new home. She expresses her gratitude to the IRC and WE for helping her achieve her dream and is thankful for the opportunity to pursue her passion for running a successful business.

Husniah | San Diego

Nov 21, 2023 | California, Featured News/ Events, Our Impact Page, Women Stories

Husniah, a refugee student from Afghanistan and Corpsmember with WE partner, Urban Corps of San Diego County, has faced numerous challenges on her journey, but her resilience and determination have never wavered. As a refugee, she has had to overcome obstacles that most of us can’t even imagine. One of the biggest obstacles she faced was transportation.

Living far from the Urban Corps of San Diego campus, it was a constant struggle for her to get to her High School Education and Job training program. However, with the help of the Women’s Empowerment International’s grant for vehicle down payment assistance, she was able to obtain a much-needed car of her own.

It has been said that “transportation is the aorta of poverty” and this is very accurate for Corpsmembers at Urban Corps. Corpsmembers were found to be missing career opportunities because they didn’t have their own vehicle. Employers want “reliable transportation” and public transportation does not always go a work location or might be delayed en route, and if you are unable to make it to work, you risk losing your job. WE has provided support for down payments, while Mission Federal Credit Credit Union, another Urban Corps partner, has been supporting financial literacy training and counseling to ensure Corpsmembers are able to continue with any insurance and loan payments that they will have.

For Husniah, her car has become a lifeline for her, enabling her to commute efficiently and reliably, eliminating the barriers that once stood in her way. Now, Husniah can confidently navigate the demands of work and education, empowering her to reach her goals and create a brighter future. Her unwavering determination, combined with the support she received, has truly transformed her life.

Isela | San Diego

Jul 30, 2023 | California, Featured News/ Events, Women Stories

Isela is a professional chef, entrepreneur, wife, and mother of three beautiful daughters. She has over 20 years of experience in the food and business industries in Colombia and the U.S. Isela came to the U.S. as a political asylee who fled her home in Cartagena due to the persecution by the government for her activism defending Black and Afro-descendant communities of Colombia. Isela was introduced to IRC resettlement services in February 2019 through the Survivors of the Torture program.

Once Isela was settled and ready to start her business, she was referred to IRC’s Small Business Development Center and the WE STAR Program, where she received one-on-one business counseling services. She was able to establish her business and access a $15,000 business loan to buy a food truck for her business. Isela sells at local farmers’ markets, supplies to local specialty grocers, and caters for special events. The company is now investing in a food trailer to develop a restaurant chain and become a staple for Colombian food.

About IRC San Diego:

IRC San Diego’s “WE STAR” Program recognizes entrepreneurship as a viable option for low-income, immigrant, and refugee women to achieve economic mobility and lift themselves out of poverty. Many of these women face obstacles to financial stability, including a lack of: access to linguistically- and culturally-appropriate services, formal education, transportation, access to financial capital, and familiarity with business customs and regulations in the US. With WE’s support, barriers are reduced for these women to open and operate a successful small business through training and workshops, 1:1 business counseling, business licensing assistance, access to microloans, and assistance with marketing and bookkeeping, as well as social and emotional wellness support.

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