THROUGH PERSEVERANCE

Steven Miruho’s story is not the kind you hear about every day. Before he arrived in Québec with his family in 2009, Steven Miruho fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spent six years in a refugee camp in Zambia.

He and his family had nothing when they came to Québec. The YMCA was waiting for them at the airport with coats and boots, a practice that is done for all governmentassisted refugees who arrive during the winter. They were then resettled in Joliette, one of Québec’s 14 destination cities for government-assisted refugees. Mr. Miruho felt immediately at home in the open-minded and welcoming community. Day after day, the city proved itself to be an ideal place, both to raise his children and to fulfill his dreams.

Mr. Miruho adapted to life in Québec relatively easily, but he insists that it required effort. First of all, after six years spent in a refugee camp, he had all but forgotten his French – so he took refresher courses. Then he returned to school to complete his training as a nursing assistant, which had been his profession in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now, he works at the hospital in Joliette, caring for patients.

Mr. Miruho believes that his success is due to two main factors: the help he received from the government and various organizations, and the fact that he set professional goals for himself. With contagious good humour, he recalls that during difficult times, it was seeing Québec immigrants’ success stories – like that of boxer Lucian Bute – that encouraged him to persevere. If they could succeed, then so could he. Today, Mr. Miruho is very proud of his work as a nursing assistant. He is appreciated by all of his colleagues and especially by his patients, and while he was initially afraid of the snow, he has learned to love it! Above all else, he feels anything is possible for him and for his children here in Québec.

“Mr. Miruho felt immediately at home in the open-minded and welcoming community. Day after day, the city proved itself to be an ideal place, both to raise his children and to fulfill his dreams.” “Above all else, he feels anything is possible for him and for his children here in Québec.”