Refugee Stories

Refugee Stories series features personal accounts from individuals who have faced the harrowing journey of seeking asylum. Obaida, a 21-year-old from Syria, shares his experience of fleeing the Syrian war, spending years in Jordan, and eventually finding safety in the UK, where he now advocates for other refugees as a youth ambassador. Olha, a 16-year-old from Ukraine, recounts the disruption of her life by the war, her escape to Poland with her younger brother, and the kindness of strangers that helped her along the way. Despite the chaos, she dreams of returning home to rebuild her country. Another story is of Grmalem, a 25-year-old from Eritrea, who escaped oppressive conditions and now lives in foster care in the UK, working to support others. Rishan is from Eritrea, at 16 she embarked on a perilous journey across the Sahara Desert with friends and eventually made her way to the UK. Randy, a 19-year-old from Managua, Nicaragua, forced to leave his family, he navigates the complexities of seeking asylum in the UK. These narratives highlight the resilience and hope that refugees maintain despite their challenging circumstances.