“HIAS entered at the exact moment that was just perfect for us. They were giving us that push that we needed, and then we really got sharp and we registered the brand, thanks to this training with HIAS.”

When HIAS entered Magdiel Galeano Gómez and his husband Jeffrey’s lives, they were struggling to balance a passion for their business, finishing university, and supporting themselves. Now, with the help of cash assistance and training programs on how to run a business, Magdiel and Jeffrey have been able to grow their success.

The journey to this point has not been easy for Magdiel, who came out to his family at age 16 “just so that [he] could be at ease.” At the same time, he became involved in political activism because in his eyes, his identity and political activism are intrinsically linked.

He and Jeffrey – both refugees from Nicaragua, now living in Costa Rica – met while living in the same house with other members of the LGBTQ community. Nearly four years later, they are partners in life and in business – which Magdiel says is thriving thanks to the business tools that HIAS gave them.

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HIAS works across Costa Rica, Aruba, Chad, Ecuador, Guyana, Israel, Kenya, Panama, Peru, the U.S., and Venezuela providing economic inclusion programs to help ensure that refugees have safe opportunities to earn sustainable income and rebuild their lives. Inclusion of refugees boosts economies, creates resilience, prevents gender-based violence, and provides the opportunity to start a new life in safety and dignity.

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