Marc

Living as a Congolese refugee in Rwanda for 18 years, Marc understands global racial discrimination and injustice on a deeply personal level. Evicted from the DRC, Marc and his family took refuge in Rwanda, where they worked hard to create a new home. Marc attended a year long program, where he learned to sew, and used his new talents to provide for his family as well as teach others. Becoming president of the refugee camp, Marc managed volunteers, donations, and relationships with the Rwandan government. To his surprise, his family was among the first group of refugees from the camp to be granted access to America.

While learning a new culture and country was difficult, Marc sought out jobs where he could use his sewing skills, but to no avail. The only jobs available for recently resettled refugees were unfulfilling, unpredictable, and menial. “I didn’t think it was possible to find a job doing what I love and using my skills, but I found Knotty Tie and I am so thankful everyday. It is wonderful to have a job where I can learn english, use my professional skills and provide for my family. I am able to show my children that they have a promising future and can do many things in America.”

Omar

Omar is from Hama, Syria. When Syria broke out in war, the government started throwing civilians in jail without cause. After 8 months of living in fear of being thrown in jail at any moment, Omar fled Syria. He and his family found safety at a refugee camp in Jordan. At first Jordan welcomed Syrian refugees, but as more and more Syrians were displaced by the war, Jordan grew reluctant to accept more refugees. Omar lived in the refugee camp for 5 years before he was granted asylum in America.

On February 13th, 2017, Omar and his family started their new life in Colorado. His wife, his 2 year old son, and his 3 year old daughter accompanied him to their new home. Before he moved to America he didn’t know if he would like it here, but now he says he likes Americans even more than his people of Syria. He has felt very welcome here, and he likes his coworkers a lot. His goal is to build a bright future for his family in Denver. In order to make this happen, he first plans to become fluent in English, and later hopes to attend fashion design school. His brother and mother are back in Syria and he misses them every day, and hopes that some day they will be able to join him in America. 

Amandou

Growing up in Mauritania, Africa, Amandou Sy was subject to an oppressive government who created an ethnic conflict that threatened him and his family’s lives. In 1989, a near war with bordering Senegal created a refugee crisis that forced thousands of Mauritanian people to relocate to the neighboring country. This exodus to Senegal was orchestrated by his own government in order to fulfill their race based agenda. Taking this hardship in stride, Amandou happily resettled in a safer environment and found the love of his life there. His wife’s family was also suffering from the same hardships as his in their native country.

In Senegal, Amandou learned how to sew and worked for a small company cutting and sewing traditional African men’s clothing. Amandou and his family lived in Senegal for nearly 20 years before getting an opportunity to move to the United States. Initially relocated to Kansas City, Amandou found a job sewing American flags and worked there for 6 years. As a recent transplant to Denver he found Knotty Tie Co and has been an excellent fit. He is happy to have found a position that pays well, suits his skill set and allows him to provide for him and his 8 children. Amandou attends English classes at night and wants to perfect his English language skills so that he can continue to expand his career possibilities.