Guest Post: The Long Haul of Resettlement
Guest Post by Bridget Donohue of Project Dignity
When Bud arrived in South Bend from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he carried the weight of years of upheaval and the ache of being separated from his family. Like many newly arrived refugees, his first months were spent in what can only be described as survival mode. Everything was unfamiliar—the language, workplace expectations, the bills arriving in the mail, and the day-to-day logistics most of us take for granted.
Catholic Charities case manager Lisa walked beside him through this demanding stretch. Much of her work was the kind that rarely makes headlines but is absolutely essential. She helped Bud secure and keep a job, guided him through paperwork, taught him how to interpret his mail, showed him how to pay bills on time, and checked in regularly so he wouldn’t slip through the cracks. Her steady presence gave him stability when he had very little margin, and her persistence made it possible for him to stay afloat during an overwhelming season of adjustment.
Over time, that stability allowed Bud to look further ahead. Slowly, his question shifted from “How do I get through today?” to “What comes next?” For Bud, the answer became clear: he wanted to learn enough English to earn a driver’s license. In the Congo, cars were far too expensive, so he walked everywhere. Here—especially in winter—the ability to drive represents freedom, better job opportunities, and the hope of supporting his loved ones more fully.
That’s when Project Dignity volunteers stepped in. Helena, a volunteer fluent in French and experienced in tutoring immigrants, heard about Bud and offered her help. Every Wednesday after work, Project Dignity brings him to a tutoring session around a dining room table, where he and Helena work patiently through the driver’s manual and the vocabulary he will need for both the written and driving tests. Their conversations are steady and focused, and little by little, Bud is gaining confidence. You can see it in the way he pays attention, tries new phrases, and begins to believe that this goal is within reach.
A few weeks ago, after a session that ended with a simple discussion about what kind of car he might buy someday, Bud pulled out his phone and typed: “I’m so happy! I’m so happy!” It was the joy of someone who, for the first time in a long while, could picture a life that might truly work.
Stories like Bud’s remind us that progress rarely arrives all at once. It grows through steady support, patient guidance, and the willingness of many people to walk with someone as they find their footing. Catholic Charities is grateful for case managers like Lisa—and for the volunteers and partners who are in it for the long haul.
About the author
Bridget Donohue brings over 35 years of experience in education and leadership. Bridget’s career includes teaching seminars in Scripture and humanities at Trinity School at Greenlawn, serving as Assistant to the President for curriculum development, and training faculty as a master teacher. She is also an editor and writer at Veritas Journal. During her final year of teaching, Bridget began housing refugees in her own home. This transformative experience led her to establish Project Dignity, where she now serves as Executive Director.