June Member Highlight/ Miembro del Mes

In February 2017, Simone, her husband, and their two daughters aged 15 and 19 at the time moved to the United States, leaving behind their lives in Brazil. It was a daunting task to start anew in a foreign land, but they were determined to offer their daughters a better quality of life than what they experienced in Brazil, where corruption and violence were a harsh reality. 

Simone’s husband had come to the United States a year before due to his job. Initially, they faced many challenges adjusting to their life in Waltham. They had to navigate various areas such as the English language, education system, job opportunities, and understanding the healthcare system. The journey was filled with learning opportunities, some of which were painful but nonetheless, Simone and her family were unwavering in their determination to make the best of their new life in Waltham. 

Simone took advantage of the resources available to her at WATCH and enrolled in English classes. She was able to connect with the other students and created lots of friendships with people from different nationalities who were going through similar challenges. Simone and her family are extremely resilient, never letting unfortunate circumstances stop them in their tracks. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she continued her English studies virtually and utilized WATCH’s rental assistance support. As Simone looks back at her family's journey, she is grateful for WATCH’s support, which she says has been instrumental in helping them adjust to their life in the United States.