"From Refugee to Restaurant Owner" by Michelle Schatz

Nov. 7, 2018
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Weldy Gezehen and child in commercial kitchen

MDP student Michelle Schatz completed her summer field practicum with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Tucson, working with refugee populations in Arizona. Michelle wrote about the success of one refugee from Eritrea, Weldy Gezehen, who has opened the Queen Sheba Eritrean Restaurant not far from the University of Arizona campus.

"Weldy Gezehen’s story illustrates how a former refugee has contributed to the local Tucson economy. It was always Weldy Gezehen’s dream to own his own restaurant. "His dream was put on hold when Weldy and his family had to flee the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Eritrea and embark on a new life as refugees in neighboring Ethiopia. Currently there are 357,406 Eritrean refugees fleeing violence, persecution, torture, and indefinite national service at the hand of the Eritrean dictator Isaias Afwerki, who came to power after a 30-year war with Ethiopia."

You can read more about Weldy, his work in Tucson, and the circumstances facing global refugees on the IRC website