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Refugees from around the world celebrate their high school graduation

Posted at 5:29 PM, Jun 15, 2013
and last updated 2013-06-15 19:29:37-04

SALT LAKE CITY – Catholic Community Services hosts a foster care program for refugees, and Saturday teens in the program celebrated their high school graduation with an open house and cookout at the park.

The Catholic Community Services’ Refugee Foster Program is the only one of its kind in Utah, and it operates a safe haven for children who have had to deal with violence, corruption and other hardships in their lives.

All of the teens involved in the program received their diplomas, and all of them plan to pursue post-secondary education. The teens and their families gathered at the Jordan Park Peace Gardens to celebrate their achievements.

Pamela Mufuka is one of the program’s graduates, and she said she is excited to continue her academic career at the University of Utah.

"I am really happy to know the U of U is one of the biggest schools in Utah, and I, as a refugee, am going to be going to that school just makes me really happy,” she said.

The teens in the program came from all over the world.