When Sakina first came to Golden Sierra, she was sleeping in her car. She was new to the country, separated from her family, and unable to speak English. Sakina had escaped Afghanistan and was rebuilding her life from scratch. Golden Sierra’s first priority was safety. Staff connected Sakina to Taylor House, a shelter for young women, giving her stability and a place to rest.

From there, the focus shifted to dignity and progress. Sakina shared a simple but powerful goal: learn English and find steady work cleaning hotel rooms. Golden Sierra placed her at Compassion Planet, where she could build her English language skills in a welcoming, low-pressure environment. She is supported by a friend, another Golden Sierra participant, who is gaining work experience alongside her.

To reduce daily barriers, WIOA funded real-time translation technology, helping Sakina communicate, shop for necessities, and ask for help with confidence. Next, she will enroll in English classes at the local adult school. Sakina’s story is a reminder that workforce development is also about humanity – meeting people where they are, restoring hope, and helping them build a future with dignity.