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From playing guitar, to starting over in New York City, to making clothing, refugees around the world have dreams and goals worthy of your support. These refugee notes describe eight stories of hope for World Refugee Day and beyond.
Isra left Sudan when she was 5 or 6 years old. At the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, where nearly 200,000 other refugees and asylum-seekers live, she dreamed about her future.
“I want to go to university and study social work. I want to build a house for my family. I want to go back to Sudan as a successful person and help.”
IsraAID works with Isra and other refugees to help them gain the skills they need to pursue their dreams. The organization provides psychosocial support, WASH training, and programs focused on livelihoods and women’s empowerment.
Hadeel’s school in Palestine doesn’t have music classes, but she’s waiting for the day when she can finally learn and play the piano.
“It’s like a dream for me! I imagine myself sitting at the piano, creating beautiful music that fills the room with happiness.”
Through the arts and music program that Tomorrow’s Youth Organization offers, Palestinian refugee children in Nablus have a creative outlet to express themselves and process their emotions. The theater, music, and dance classes are a chance for young students to showcase their talents and build self-confidence.
After fleeing religious persecution in Burkina Faso, Adeline, Panamesde, and their children sought asylum in the United States. In New York City, they were placed in a homeless shelter. Their daughter enrolled in preschool and their twins began a program designed for families with infants.
Support with translation and paperwork from Children’s Aid ultimately helped the family reach an important milestone: gaining their refugee status.
“We love our new life in New York City. This is everything we’ve dreamed of.”
Aline is from the Democratic Republic of Congo where she attended school until grade IV before fleeing her country. She dreams of running her own fashion and tailoring business.
After taking a piece of clothing to a tailor shop for repair, Aline was surprised by how high the cost was. That’s when she realized she could make a living from sewing, and her passion grew.
“Now, I can sew all kinds of clothes and would like to start my own business to be self-reliant and my own boss.”
With training from RefuSHE, Aline is now able to sew various garments. RefuShe’s economic empowerment program teaches girls entrepreneurial and vocational skills to earn an income for themselves and their children.
Reza is from Afghanistan. He enjoys playing is guitar in the sound studio at Habibi.Works and has been attending guitar classes. “In my first month, I learned my favorite song. I was so happy about it and this made me want to continue learning.”
Habibi.Works acts as a platform to empower and educate refugees in the Katsikas refugee camp and connect them with Greek locals to share knowledge and experiences. They provide various workshops that support and build new skills in their daily lives.
“What I love about guitar is that it is possible to play any type of music! I love pop music. My slogan is, ‘No music, no life.’”
“I wanted to be a big star on TV…but God didn’t will it.”
After a stint in theater, Nasir had dreams of becoming a TV star. But when the Syrian crisis started, those dreams couldn’t become a reality.
Nasir is one of three personal profiles featured in a short film produced by 3 Generations, driving home the human scale of the crisis.
3 Generations brings unseen and unheard stories of Syrian refugees to life. Help them make an impact.
“My only wish is for my son… I pray every day to be able to offer him a better future. Hopefully, he will get a good education and when he grows up he will live a dignified life without all the hardship I am going through.”
Munjura was suffering from obstructed labor when she was referred to the HOPE Foundation’s Field Hospital for Women. It’s the only hospital providing 24/7 emergency obstetric care to thousands of Rohingya women living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh.
The HOPE team helped Munjura through a safe delivery, and today, she and her son are healthy.
Support the HOPE Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh and other organizations providing life-saving health care to women like Munjura.
Her dog is waiting for her in Odesa. Alina’s two older brothers and her father are now defending their hometown in Ukraine. Even though they keep in touch daily, Alina’s mother, Tanya, worries about them. She says her uncertainty about the future never leaves her mind.
“I want to go home,” Alina said, “peace.” Then her mother added “Yes, I really miss my peaceful home.”
When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, Peace Winds Korea quickly moved to renovate an abondoned building in Moldova in order to welcome Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict. The center strives to provide an education and facilitate employment opportunities for refugees as long as the conflict prevents them from returning home.
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