It’s been a long journey

In 2009, the last thing on Aline Chito’s mind was a high school diploma. The native of Congo had bigger things to worry about

Her country was in the middle of civil war. Fear for their safety forced Aline and her family to flee to a refugee camp in neighboring Uganda.

Education took a back seat.

“At that point, I wasn’t thinking about school, or my future at all,” said Aline. “I was just trying to survive.”

After seven years in the camp, Aline was told she had been selected by the Canadian government to move to Halifax. To build a better life, she would have to leave her husband behind, not knowing when she would see him again. Four days later she was in a city she didn’t even know existed.

“I had to Google Halifax,” Aline said with a smile. “I called everyone I knew in Canada asking them about the city.”

Aline realized the importance of a high school diploma in her new country. She wanted to contribute to her community, and knew to do that, she had to further her education. She enrolled in English language classes, and signed up for the Adult Learning Program at Université Sainte-Anne.

Aline received her adult high school diploma June 21, and has already applied to the Social Services program at Nova Scotia Community College.

“Université Sainte-Anne and the Adult Learning program have created new opportunities for me,” she said.

“Everyone has been incredibly supportive. The teachers are also your friends; they care about you.“

“I encourage any French-speaking adult who doesn’t have a high school diploma to seriously consider Sainte-Anne and the adult learning program.”

Aline hopes by next spring her husband will be by her side in Canada as she continues to make the best of an opportunity she couldn’t have imagined 10 years ago.

“It’s been a long journey,” she says. “Thank you, Halifax, and Sainte-Anne, for giving me a home.”