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Our Residents

Somali woman learns English, wins USA citizenship

Somali woman learns English, wins USA citizenship

For most of her 34 years, Nuria Farhan has felt like a woman without a country.

But no more.

The native of Somalia, who spent her childhood in a series of refugee camps, is officially a citizen of the United States. It’s an accomplishment that came after years of struggling with English, and more recently, successfully taking classes at Springfield Housing Authority’s Deborah Barton Neighborhood Network Center, located at Sullivan Apartments.

It’s an understatement to say that Farhan is thrilled.

“I’m so happy now,” said the mother of two. “This is my country now. I have lived most of my life without a country. Now, I have one. I’m an American.”

Nathan Bench, Springfield Housing Authority ESOL instructor, and his student Nuria Farhan, who recently won USA citizenship.

Nathan Bench, Springfield Housing Authority ESOL instructor, and his student Nuria Farhan, who recently won USA citizenship.

Farhan passed the US citizenship test in June. She will pick up her official citation and paperwork on Friday, July 4, outside the Hampshire County Superior Courthouse in Northampton, with about 50 other new citizens in a ceremony hosted by the Center for New Americans.

Like many new Americans, Farhan’s road to citizenship was far from simple.

She and her family fled the war-torn Somalia when she was just six years old. They lived for years in refugee camps in Kenya and Tanzania. She said she and her family were provided for, but she always yearned for a place she could truly call home.

In Kenya, she married and had a daughter, Asha Muse, who is now 17.

After a years-long process, Farhan and her family in 2003 were able to move to Springfield, where she had a son, Ahmed Muse, who is now 9. Farhan, now separated from her husband, lives with her children at SHA’s Reed Village Apartments in the city’s Bay neighborhood.

Over the past decade, Farhan struggled to learn English. One ESOL class she took at a now-defunct program was filled with Somalians, which helped her in making friends but not in learning a new language.

“We’d be talking in Somalian instead of learning English,” she admitted with a laugh.

But she knew she needed English to do things like help her son with his homework, and find employment. She has held various jobs, most recently as a home health care aid, but has been out of work since breaking her hand last year.

New USA citizen Nuria Farhan, who is a native of Somalia.

New USA citizen Nuria Farhan, who is a native of Somalia.

Six months ago, Farhan joined the ESOL class at the Sullivan Apartments location. Under the tutelage of computer instructor Nathan Bench, Farhan has flourished.

“My teacher has helped me so much,” Farhan said of Bench. “For 10 years I tried to learn English, and now I am learning. I can even write in English now. I can help my son with his homework.”

Even more importantly, she was able to prepare – and pass – the challenging Naturalization Test to become a citizen of the United States. She studied civics, history, and most importantly, English, to be able to answer the questions that would earn her a country, at long last.

“I was very nervous taking the test,” she admitted. “But I did it. I did it!”

Bench said Farhan is well deserving of the rewards she is now receiving.

“She’s an excellent student,” he said. “She’s very motivated. We’re all so excited for her.”

SHA housing retention program coordinator Daisy Gomez said Farhan does far more than attend the ESOL classes, which are offered Monday through Thursday mornings at the Sullivan Center. She stays for afternoon classes, which include computer literacy and employment readiness.

“She’s here every day, working to improve herself. She’s very committed,” Gomez said.

Farhan said she will continue to press on to improve her budding English skills, and to find a job.

“I am doing whatever I can do that will help me and my family,” she explained. “I like school. I am learning so much. But I also want to work, for me and for my children.”

3557 days ago / Our Residents
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