Clement Kigugu
Executive Director of Overcomers Refugee Services
Clement Kigugu came to the United States in 2006 as an asylum seeker. He was fleeing the violence in Rwanda after a decade running nonprofits, and fearing government retribution related to his work helping victims of genocide, HIV, and war.
Kigugu speaks several languages, but when he came to NH, he did not speak English. He found resources in Concord to help him and his children while he worked two jobs and focused on learning English, including classes at Second Start (where he is now a member of the board of directors).
Kigugu worked for several years as a caseworker for a NH resettlement agency and became an employment specialist for New Americans. Seeing refugees needing assistance for both practical services and more in-depth help to deal with the trauma of surviving genocide and civil war, Kigugu launched Overcomers Refugee Services in 2013.
Overcomers Refugee Services helps clients access social services, fill out forms, interpret mail, navigate the immigration process, schedule appointments, find transportation and hone their English language skills. Currently they are helping 303 refugee families. It also helps refugees prepare for the process of becoming U.S. citizens. Overcomers is now working with others to address the lack of affordable housing, which has become another big challenge for refugees trying to settle in NH, Kigugu says.
Current Issue - April 2024