A refugee is not just a traveler.
A refugee is someone who is forced to leave her country, her family, her dreams, and her home, not by choice, but because of war, fear, and danger.
Being a refugee means starting from zero in a strange land. It means learning a new language, facing discrimination, feeling lonely, and remembering everything that was lost. The hearts of refugees carry the weight of memories such as a mother’s voice, a childhood street, the smell of home.
Refugees are strong because they survive bombs and borders. They face hunger, cold and fear, but they don’t give up. Refugees are like birds that have broken their wings, but are still trying to fly.
We must not see them as strangers, or those who leave their country behind, but see them as survivors among bullets and bombs. Their story is one of courage, not weakness. Every refugee carries a hope to live in peace, to be safe, and to one day return home or build a new one. Maybe this is a small thing for those who have peace in their country, but for refugees, it is a big wish and a dream.
– Fatima
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
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