A Journey from Student to Leader

In 2019, Hamida Ouali moved to Columbus with her husband and two daughters, ready to begin a new chapter of life. But the transition wasn’t easy. Although she had studied British English in Algeria, she quickly discovered that American English was more difficult to understand and felt like a barrier to her sense of belonging.

At first, she tried to connect through another organization, Riverview International Center, where she attended ESL classes and other programs. She now works there as the director of programs, but she wanted to learn more, so she found Festa through a simple Google search. She still remembers meeting classroom volunteers Bob and Christie and the joy she felt when she finally moved off the waitlist and became part of the Festa family.

Over the past two years, Festa has become a meaningful part of her and her family’s lives. She soon began bringing her children to join in the program where they played, received academic support and a nutritious dinner each night. Together they attended their very first Festa celebration, a joyful Christmas gathering, that still warms her heart.

Another fond memory was when staff planned “one hour to have an exercise class where all the women would come and do yoga together.”

For Hamida, Festa has been far more than English classes. It has been a place of connection, joy and family; a place where her daughters began to thrive and where she herself felt a deep sense of belonging.

Festa is more than an English language program. It is a community where neighbors from around the world come together to learn, celebrate and grow side by side.