CLEVELAND — Christian Amuli uses his camera to capture a world of possibilities for his clients.

“Today, I have a refugee customer,” Amuli said. “She’s a business owner, too. She sews. She just started her business. So, today, we will doing some portraits.”

Amuli provides discounted photography services for refugees and immigrants to help them launch their new ventures in the United States. It’s a service that Amuli said helps his clients establish themselves in their new country.

“Everybody needs to have good, professional photography for their own events or ceremonies. That’s why I help,” Amuli said. “I rather work with my refugees so that I can help my people too.” 

As a refugee from Congo, Amuli said he understands the difficulties of starting a life in a new country, like continuing a career.

“So, I started my photography career back in Africa. My brother-in-law used to own a photography company, like a studio,” Amuli said.

Despite his success at home, Amuli said his family left Africa in 2016 to seek safer living conditions. 

“We’ve a lot of like crimes, [we] have war, rapes,” Amuli said. “So, [we were] just looking for a peaceful place where we can be, I and my family, to find just like a place that we can call home where everybody can be safe.”

Just as he changes his lens for each photograph that he takes, Amuli said he wants other refugees to know that they can change their story in their new country, despite how difficult it may be to get settled.

“I’d like to advise everyone, our newcomers, just to focus on their vision and never to give up,” he said. “If they stay focused, they can achieve whatever their dreams is.”