Meet Harriet

Harriet grew up in DR Congo, where she attended school for five years before beginning
work. She later ran her own farm, growing sweet potatoes and corn to feed her family.
Her favorite meal to make is Uji, a popular breakfast porridge in East Africa made from
millet or corn.

In 2002, Harriet and her husband moved with their children to the Nyarugusu Refugee
Camp in Tanzania during the Second Congo War. For nine years, she managed the food
distribution center, where she grew food and kept it clean and organized, while her
husband worked as a security guard.

After twenty years, Harriet and her family arrived in the United States. She joined our
Granola Production Program in September 2025 and has brought so much warmth and
energy to the team; it’s hard to believe she is expecting her tenth child in just a few
months, but she insists that staying active is “good exercise for the baby.” In the kitchen,
Harriet is always willing to lend a hand. Recently she helped Aoua, a trainee from Mali,
prepare for our weekly communal dinner by keeping things organized and setting the
table for everyone.

Harriet loves living in Rhode Island and says she feels that refugees who arrive here are
very supported, especially when it comes to language classes and help finding work. She
also wanted us to know that she is very happy that there isn’t too much snow here,
which we hope stays true as it starts getting cold.