In 2024, Treehouse rang the alarm when state funding for the Graduation Success program was cut. One of the people who answered the call was Fidele Chishungu—a man who was in one of the first cohorts of the program that provides one-on-one mentoring for students in foster care.
A few things to know about Fidele: he is the salt of the earth, planes are his passion, and he believes in giving back.
“Treehouse was there for me every step of the way until I was able to start, like, finding myself and taking care of myself,” says Fidele. “When I became economically sufficient, I always wanted to be able to give back on what Treehouse did for me—helping me, teaching me how to navigate this world. Because there was just so much that I did not know.”
Growing Up with Graduation Success
Fidele was about 10 years old when he moved to the United States and entered foster care. At the time, Treehouse was mainly known as a place caregivers and kids could shop for clothes. When Graduation Success started in 2012, Fidele was a sophomore in high school.
“That’s when Sherry started coming around and talking to me about, you know, how I’m doing and how Treehouse can be able to help more,” says Fidele. “She showed me life skills that are still useful now. Like, I got a bank account that I still use now, and [that’s] how I learned to open it.”
Meeting with a Treehouse specialist like Sherry at school made all the difference.
“Before that time, I used to just rely on teachers if I needed help . . . or like my social worker . . . but that social worker did not come to school to meet with me,” says Fidele. “I was trying to figure out how things go, how you do things. But having somebody there to guide me, having Treehouse there with the schooling—and other questions that the social worker wasn’t able to answer—was a big thing for me and helped make my life less stressful.”
Access Creates Possibility
With Treehouse in the picture, Fidele had access to clothes, shoes, school supplies, sporting equipment, and school activities, thanks to Treehouse’s essential needs services.
“I felt . . . just the same as other kids,” says Fidele.
Treehouse even helped with Fidele’s dream of becoming an airline pilot. Since he was a small child, Fidele has been fascinated with planes—what makes them work, the freedom of flying, and the measured risk involved. He earned his private pilot license, but had to pivot due to costs. Now, he enjoys flying with friends in his spare time.
Navigating Life’s Pivots
“When flying did not work out, being a mechanic has been the thing that keeps me making a living,” says Fidele.
He works at the Seattle Boeing Field as an airplane mechanic—which requires special licensing and keeps him around planes.
“I love flying more than fixing the planes—for now I’m pausing, but I have not completely quit it,” Fidele says with a smile in his voice.
Perseverance and hope for the future are qualities Fidele hasn’t lost in all that life has thrown his way.
“Treehouse, being there, was able to help me be where I needed,” says Fidel. “It shaped the way I think about life and how to move forward.
