Véronique came to the US as a refugee from Ivory Coast  with her two young daughters, and her mother and cousin. Véronique's husband is still in Ivory Coast waiting for his visa before he can reunite with them. In June 2020, at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, Véronique shared her story with SHC.

SHC: Tell me a little bit about yourself and about your work.

Véronique: I am a chef at Foodhini [a DC area food delivery service that employs refugees and immigrants]. I cook different foods. Food from my country and French food.

SHC: How does it feel going to work every day during Coronavirus?

Véronique: It’s not easy. I am scared because too many people are sick. I go there every day and work hard. I make money and I go home. I need money because I have two children and my mom who is not working.

SHC: What gives you strength to carry on?

Véronique: I love what I do. It is my greatest joy. I have always liked to be a chef. Foodhini gave me that opportunity. In my country I helped with our family cooking business. That’s how I know all kinds of dishes. 

SHC: What makes you most proud about your work?

Véronique: Through my dishes I help my clients travel to Africa. I work hard for customers and every week I come up with new creations. You won’t find the recipes on YouTube, they are my own dishes. Maybe one day I will have my own YouTube channel and restaurant!

SHC: What are your hopes for your family?

Véronique: I want my daughters to have a good education. I would like my husband to be with me and I would like us to live happily in this country that welcomes us.

SHC: What do you wish people knew about refugees?

Véronique: I would like people to know that refugees have a dream that has been destroyed and that they want to rebuild. They want to integrate and be like Americans. They also want to contribute to the development of the country. However people must know that we have hardships, especially language, and money. The first two years are the hardest.

SHC: Is there anything else that you would like to say?

Véronique: Yes, I would like brothers from our countries and from every religion to help each other. I would like peace among us. We came to start over and we need to be united to succeed.