NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — People move to Nashville every day. But when you don't know how to speak English, finding work can be nearly impossible. Now, The Branch of Nashville is helping families from all over the world.
Wendy Salyers is an English instructor at The Branch of Nashville. The non-profit is dedicated to helping people living in and around Antioch, short on food and employment opportunities.
"Some of them can speak a little bit of English, but they can't read English. They're all the same in that they know it's important and they want to have a better life," said Salyers.
25-year-old Rebecca Abdull knows all about the quest for a better life.
"I just moved to Nashville with my mom on July 17 of 2018. So it's been about six months," Abdul said.
Abdul came to the United States 13-years-ago from Congo. She left Congo for America but had to leave her mother, Mimi, behind.
"My mom told me 'I don't want you to forget God, I don't want you to forget where you're from, and I want you to focus on school,'" she said.
Abdul did just that. She never forgot about her family, graduated nursing school, worked several jobs and spent more than four years to bring her mother to America.
Now, Mimi and Rebecca are reunited in Nashville. Rebecca takes her mother to English classes every week and says watching her mom learn and grow is what the branch is all about.
