Mariam Mohamed, left, comforts her son after he ran to her during Thursday night’s Healthcare Pathway Graduation Ceremony for the certified nursing assistant program through Lewiston Adult Education at 145 Birch St. in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Sixteen new certified nursing assistants are ready to join the workforce after celebrating the end of clinicals with loved ones at Lewiston Adult Education on Thursday evening.

The graduates came from nine countries, from Ukraine to Comoros Island, an archipelagic country in Southeastern Africa; from Kenya to the Philippines. All multilingual learners, language was a challenge for many.

After leaving her home country of Chad a year ago, Aicha Lony is still learning the ropes in her new home. “We have some challenges, really. The first one is language. It’s our second language. It’s not easy at all,” Lony said. “But we are committed to overcoming. We all are.”

“Another challenge is the psychological pressure of immigration,” Lony added.

Aicha Lony listens to classmates talk prior to Thursday night’s Healthcare Pathway Graduation Ceremony for the certified nursing assistant program through Lewiston Adult Education at 145 Birch St. in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

For those who had left behind a career in their home countries, starting anew was daunting at times, the graduates said. Saifeldin Goga was a soccer coach in Sudan but he found inspiration in helping people. “In my country, we do help people like this,” without caregiving being a job. “If you are a neighbor and you are sick, we will help you,” Goga said. “We stay with the patient as (would their) father, son, neighbors, family,” Goga continued. “It’s a human job, not a job for salary or something like that.”

Similarly, lived experiences moved Aylani Nouoira to help others. “I had a master’s in transportation and logistics, but I took care of my grandma and my mom who had a stroke,” Nouoira said. “From that time, I thought it was very wonderful to take care of people who needed help. But in Comoros Islands, I couldn’t do that,” Nouoira added. “When I came here, I saw I have the opportunity to help old people and decided to become a CNA.”

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For Mariam Mohamed, timing was tricky. A mother of two, Mohamed had to attend her clinicals at the same time as her third pregnancy. “For so many times, I was about to give,” she recalled. She found the courage to continue in her peers and teachers.

Mamie Kabulo said she was happy to find a family among her peers. She leaned on them for support many times.

“It’s easier when you are surrounded by people that push you to keep going,” Kabulo said. “I remember one day I got 55 over 100. I thought I was not happy, I decided to stop coming,” Kabulo recalled. “But I received a call from Elsa. She told me, ‘Mamie, I think next time you’re gonna make it.'”

“It’s not just a class. It’s like a family that supports you for everything,” Kabulo said. “We are not alone, we have somebody next to us to push us. I’m so glad about that,” she added.

Razell Ward, assistant director of Lewiston Adult Education, addresses graduates and guests during Thursday night’s Healthcare Pathway Graduation Ceremony for the certified nursing assistant program through Lewiston Adult Education. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The graduates spent half a year earning different health care certifications while working through English classes. After completing clinicals at local health care facilities, many move on to apprenticeships with offers lined up even before finishing their training. In these paid apprenticeships with local facilities, they will continue to learn for another year.

The program is called Healthcare Pathway, funded through the Department of Labor.

“A couple of years ago, there was a little thing called the pandemic, and it really highlighted how essential health care workers are in the state of Maine,” Samantha Dina, associate commissioner at Maine Department of Labor, said. “And (health care workers) are only getting more and more special. We are the oldest state in the country,” Dina added.

“One interesting fact is by 2030, 41% of our population is going to be over 55, compared to 32% nationally. We are the oldest state, we are continuing to get older, and we need workers like yourselves to care for our Mainers as we age,”  Dina said.

Aicha Lony, right, takes a selfie with classmate Aylani Nouoira prior to Thursday night’s Healthcare Pathway Graduation Ceremony for the certified nursing assistant program through Lewiston Adult Education. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

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