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On the Road to Desbele’s Dreams

Impact Stories Article
Clearwater Credit Union member, Desbele Tekle and his family in front of their car.

A refugee family moved to Missoula from Eritrea, Africa. Thanks to the credit union, they had the help they needed.

On average, it takes a refugee two years to resettle — that’s two years of waiting and wondering what’s next. Here’s how we helped a refugee family from Eritrea, Africa make themselves at home in Missoula while they waited.

Man behind the wheel driving his new car.

Desbele, Meet Missoula

Desbele Tekle and his family came to Missoula from Eritrea, Africa, in May of 2017 during the magic of a Montana springtime. His sister and her family came too, and they all quickly grew to love the mountains, the people, and the “long-running river.”

Clearwater Credit Union member, Desbele Tekle and his family in front of their car.

A Promising Start

Staff from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Missoula met the family at the airport and brought them to their new home. After settling in, Desbele and his wife Samrawit attended our “Understanding the U.S. Banking System” class for refugees, which IRC Missoula and Clearwater Credit Union created together.

This class teaches families like Desbele’s how to write a check, use an ATM machine and debit card, and understand the difference between a savings account and checking account, with training offered in Arabic, Swahili and Tigrinya through on-site interpreters from IRC Missoula.

The Family Needed a Car

Some challenges of resettlement are distinct, like language and culture. Others are universal. In a family of six, everyone has different schedules. Desbele’s children (ages 5, 8, 13 and 15) go to daycare, elementary school, middle school, and high school. Any parent will tell you that four kids in four schools (plus after-school activities) will make transportation tricky.


Clearly, they needed a vehicle.


Desbele went to a dealership first, where he tried to navigate a car purchase with a $500 credit card in hand. When that didn’t work, he called a friend (our translator for this interview), and together they went to Clearwater Credit Union. Because of the banking classes he had taken, Desbele knew we would be able and willing to help with his first major purchase in the U.S.


With a loan from the credit union, Desbele was able to purchase a minivan. Now he can run errands and transport his entire family to church and school.


He can also get work. Back in Eritrea, Desbele was a midwife. Now, because of the car, he can make the commute to the Village Health and Rehabilitation Center, where he’s now employed. Desbele is thrilled to be working again in the medical field.

Man behind the wheel driving his new car.

So happy

— Desbele Tekle

So happy getting a loan because otherwise, it would take a very long time to get money to get a car, which would distort our plans. This opportunity allows us to dream.
Clearwater Credit Union member, Desbele Tekle and his family in front of their car.

Dreams Can Come True

With his family all together, a reliable set of wheels, and help from his credit union, Desbele and his family are finding their place here in Missoula — a place where their dreams can come true.

This story was originally published on December 11, 2018.

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