A New Direction for Rahvae

New Skills, New Possibilities

For more than two months, Rahvae woke up around 3 a.m. to catch the bus to work. He was putting in long days and picking up overtime while working toward a more stable future. Reliable transportation would make a big difference.

Rahvae first came to CityLink at his mom’s suggestion. With a background in construction and an interest in technology, he enrolled in Per Scholas. Through hard work and encouragement from his classmates, he graduated with his CompTIA A+ certification and additional Google certifications in IT and AI.

As he built new skills, Rahvae was also working through financial and transportation challenges. A car purchase at 19 had left him with a large loan. After his vehicle was repossessed and unpaid traffic tickets affected his driver’s license, he needed a more affordable path forward.

His student coordinator, Kashmin, introduced him to ChangingGears and the Vehicle Purchase Program. The opportunity to purchase a restored car at half its market value, with a no-interest loan, offered a way to access reliable transportation while working toward his goal of paying down debt.

But for Rahvae, the support meant more than an affordable car. He says the encouragement he received from ChangingGears helped motivate him to take the steps needed to regain his driver’s license and secure his required SR-22 insurance documentation.

His faith also helped him embrace a fresh start. When he was baptized in February, Rahvae felt he could leave his frustrations in the water and focus on the future.

Today, he works full time as an inventory control specialist at Pomeroy Tech Distribution Center in Hebron, Kentucky. He tests laptops, label printers, and other technology equipment while helping manage inventory in a large warehouse.

Rahvae is grateful to have private transportation. His morning commute now takes about 25–30 minutes, giving him a more manageable start to the day than his early morning bus routine. With access to affordable repairs through ChangingGears after a vehicle purchase, he can also plan for the ongoing costs of keeping a car on the road.

He’s focused on increasing his income, paying down debt, and saving for an apartment. His advice to others is to keep going, step outside their comfort zones, and build connections.

At CityLink and ChangingGears, Rahvae found people who encouraged him as he worked toward his goals. With new skills and reliable transportation, he’s continuing to build the future he wants.