Dekamin was born in Congo, where he went to law school and had hoped to use his voice to create a positive difference in his community. But when political unrest threatened to silence that voice, Dekamin accepted an opportunity to come to the United States and build his skills and a new life here.

The first five years of Dekamin’s life in the US were spent studying at Fox Valley Technical College and working in factories, but he knew that he was meant to do something different. He first came to Goodwill North Central Wisconsin through Career EXCELerate, a highly personalized program that helps individuals interested in developing job skills and growing a career. Mike Garrigan, Manager of Mission Operations, notes that Dekimin’s positive attitude was apparent right from the start. “He supported other program participants while in that program, and while he was working on his education and looking for a career himself,” Mike said.

When Goodwill NCW decided to hire a case manager to work with Congolese refugees, Dekamin’s background made him a natural choice. Although there were initial uncertainties, his commitment and hard work have proven him to be an excellent addition to our team. Mike shares, “Dekamin has never been a case manager in a nonprofit in the United States. He had a little bit of experience before coming to the United States, but it’s definitely a new situation here that he has embraced, and he is working very hard to become the best case manager he can by supporting Congolese refugees in our manufacturing program.”

“My favorite part of working at Goodwill is when I’m helping people,” Dekamin states. “It’s like you’re showing someone how to fish, so when the person is doing something by themselves, I feel very, very proud about that.”

Dekamin would like to continue to build his skills and is particularly interested in becoming a travel trainer. “I want to learn to be a travel trainer so I can help people to learn how to use the bus so people can learn to be independent – they can go to the stores and go to work by using public transportation,” he says.

“Dekamin’s life is transformed by Goodwill NCW’s mission by participating in the programs and elevating himself and then taking in turn what he has learned from those programs, what he has learned from being a part of a caring team, and then applying that to the participants that we serve,” Mike asserts. “He has a passion for newcomers into our community and helping them assimilate, get good paying, family supporting careers, and being successful.”

Dekamin adds, “Something that I would like to add is especially for newcomers, if you have a dream, please focus on your dream, work on it, and you will succeed.”

To learn more about Career EXCELerate, go to www.careerexceleratwi.org