To the 25 honorees at Saturday’s “Self-Reliance Award” ceremony at the Salt Lake County Complex, the recognition was more valuable — and more personal — than an Oscar.
The refugees hailed from Afghanistan and Iraq, Sudan and Somalia, Kuwait and India, Congo and the Central African Republic, but what they had in common was the ability to persevere amid almost insurmountable obstacles.
Each framed certificate honored an individual accomplishment — from learning English, to finishing high school, to finding and holding a job, to supporting a family, and lifting others out of poverty.
This is the ninth such awards ceremony sponsored by Women of the World, a nonprofit organization founded by Utahn Samira Harnish “to support refugee women to achieve self-reliance, a voice in the community, and economic success.