BOISE, Idaho — When Mwajuma Joselyn and her family fled the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, her mother hoped to find a place where her four children could grow up in a safe environment.

“My mom didn’t think it was a place to raise a family, “Joselyn said. “A single mother wouldn’t be able to raise four kids in a place where people are constantly dying.”

Joselyn was just eight years old when she first set foot in the Gem State. At first, she said, she was excited about attending school in the United States. However, that excitement quickly faded when she realized how challenging it would be to adapt to a new country, culture, and language.

“Many of my teachers would speak to me, and obviously I wouldn’t be able to answer because I didn’t speak English,” Joselyn said. “Many would

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