#refugeestories

[mohammedmtargaza]

"This is part of our suffering with every rainfall—a constant battle against the water." ⛈️💔

Please watch until the end to see our reality. This is not a movie; it is my children’s daily life. When the sky opens, our nightmare begins. 🌧️

The laboratories where I worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist 🔬 are gone, and the system I served has collapsed. Now, my only mission is to stay awake all night, moving soaked blankets and lifting my children away from the rising water inside our torn tent.

I studied to fight disease; now, I struggle just to keep my babies dry. 🕯️

"This is part of our suffering with every rainfall—remembering the warmth we lost." 🏠✨

Look at this smile. It came from a place of dignity, security, and a future I thought was certain. In this room, we weren't just "surviving"—we were living. 🕊️

We had walls, dry beds, and the simple peace of a closed door. These are not just memories; they are evidence of the life that was stolen from us. 🛡️

"This is part of our suffering with every rainfall—holding onto hope in a soaked tent." ⛺🧤

Today, my Bachelor’s degree cannot keep them dry. My training cannot stop the storm. But my love for them remains unshaken. I hold them close, pretending everything is okay, while the mattresses underneath them are soaked. 🥀

We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for the basic human right to be safe, warm, and dry. 🤝

🙏 How You Can Stand With Us

"This is part of our suffering with every rainfall—your kindness is the only roof we have left." 🌧️🛡️

Your support is more than a donation; it is a shield against the next storm. It is medicine, a dry blanket, and a message that our lives still matter.

✓ Vetted by @gazavetters (#533) · ✓ Verified by @bilal-sala7 (#36)

📍 Donate here 💳 📍 Reblog/Share: To help our voice reach the world. 🔄

Thank you for seeing our humanity. Thank you for standing with us. 🤍

[hamsafamily1]

Hi, I’m Hamsa, a Palestinian mother from Gaza.

I’m the wife of my amazing husband Haytham, and together we’re raising three beautiful children

Ali (5), Ameer (3), and Mona (2).

They are our whole world.

But Gaza is no place to raise children right now.

Every day we wake up praying we’ll survive the next.

We’ve lost our home, our safety, and the little sense of normal we used to cling to.

But we haven’t lost each other and that’s why I’m here.

Donate to Help Haytham and Hamsa's Family Survive Gaza War!, organized by Haytham Abushaban

Hi, my name is Haytham, a Palestinian from Gaza, husband to my bel… Haytham Abushaban needs your support for Help Haytham and Hamsa's Family

This fundraiser is for our family.

To keep our children warm, fed, and safe.

To give them a future beyond rubble and fear.

We’re not asking for much just enough to survive.

If you can’t donate, please share. Your voice can carry ours.

Your kindness can help us hold on.

Thank you for reading, thank you for caring.

From my heart to yours. 💔🇵🇸

[memoryboat-blog]

Name: Heng

Occupation: Analyst in Oil and Gas

Country of Origin: Cambodia

THE AMERICAN DREAM

I was born in 1979, and after two months, my entire family left Cambodia. We ended up in Khao-I-Dang, a refugee camp in Thailand. We were there for about two years. During that time, my father was shot and killed. They told my mom about it. We actually never got a chance to see his body.

After those two years, we were granted asylum in the United States. Ronald Reagan eased restrictions allowing refugees to come in. We applied for Chicago, Philadelphia, and got accepted to Houston. It was me, my mom, my aunts and my maternal grandparents. They're all still here.

It was hard at first. I remember sometimes having to go dumpster diving. At first, my mom got a job taking care of the elderly. She went from that to being a live-in nanny. She did that for about a year. Then she moved to another family, as a live-out nanny. She did that for several years and eventually ended up working in dry cleaning for about 16 years. My grandmother had a job picking up trash along the highway. Then she moved to another job building vertical blinds. She’d spend 10 to 12 hours every day on her feet, building and carrying these heavy blinds. My grandfather worked as a dishwasher at a cafeteria.

We didn’t speak English when we started school. My friends and I were all refugees. We met because we were all put into one apartment complex. We’d watch TV and make up our own English based on what we thought it sounded like. I remember being in kindergarten, and the teacher asked us to read something on the board. Everybody raised their hand. She called my name, and of course, I couldn’t read it. After that I was put in ESL. I was in ESL for three years.

My family loves living here. We really appreciate it, because if it weren’t for America, we’d still be in Cambodia. I’d probably be on the side of the road selling tarantulas or something. We struggled when we first came to America. But of course, if you work hard here, you actually get something out of it. They’re very appreciative.

I ended up going back to Cambodia in 2008. It was my first time back since I was two months old. I met my uncle and my paternal grandmother, before she passed away. She was very frail. She thought I was my mom.

It was terrible what happened in Cambodia, but on the bright side, I’m here. This is my home. I’ve been able to make something of myself. I’m not a taker. I’m not on welfare. I’m not on food stamps. I pay taxes every year. I’m an American. I think like an American. I act like an American. Even though, deep down inside, I’m Cambodian.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Part of our series covering refugees and the people and organizations that service them. For this series, we will be covering stories from people over and under the age of 50.

[hostageofeurope]

🎥 On Sunday, June 23rd, 2024, under the scorching heat exceeding 40°C, my sweat-drenched body and tormented soul sought relief at the water tap across from the UNHCR building. Despite washing clothes manually without proper resources and on an empty stomach, the day marked the two-month anniversary of my seventh shelter’s demolition. My scant resources, depleted but symbolically draped to dry, mirrored my unrelenting struggle under the harsh sun, emphasizing the urgency of your continued support.

[disableddreamdefender]

Inspirational Refugee Story: Ryyan Alshebl

Meet Ryyan Alshebl, 29, from southern Syria. He’s lived in Germany for almost eight years, now in Althengstett, Calw. Life’s crazy – seven years ago, he was in a refugee shelter; today, he’s the mayor.

Ryyan’s journey started in a refugee shelter, learning German from scratch. Facing challenges, he persevered, eventually becoming a top student in his administrative training. With support from his mentor, Clemens Götz, and the local community, he decided to run for mayor.

Campaigning wasn’t easy. Knocking on doors, facing skepticism, and overcoming biases, he kept pushing forward. The people of Ostelsheim asked, "Can he do the job?" and believed in his capabilities, not his background.

On April 2nd, with a 68.39% turnout, he won 55.41% of the vote, becoming the mayor. This victory is a testament to tolerance, openness, and community spirit. From Syria to Germany, his journey is about resilience, community support, and the power of dreams.

Thank you, Ostelsheim, for believing in him. Let’s create a future together. 🌟

[karhina03]

HUMAN THESIS, pilot project - asylum seeker and refugee stories about their journey to Australia. Their messages of hope and resilience are amazing. Works by @zsofisamu_art for the @ondru_org human thesis project @abbotsfordconvent #refugeestories #wirework #asylumseekers #letthemstay #welcomerefugees (at Abbottsford Convent) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpq_nC_vLWu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[karhina03]

Ondru: Lost & Found opening @abbotsfordconvent - Human Thesis: Afghan Stories project - hand-woven stories of enduring human displacement. A multidisciplinary art project that aims to express past and ongoing displacement experienced by people of Afghanistan. The project is developed based on three fundamental principles co-developed with the community: Home, Freedom and Diversity of Experience. @ondru_org #asylumseekers #refugees #refugeestories #artsproject #community #communityart (at Abbottsford Convent) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpqvDqOvmCn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[essentialise]

IKEA Docuseries: Episode 2 So much fun to film. And now live on the IKEA website. #ikeauk #belonging #homely #refugeestories #orangery #communalliving #cohousing #bradforduponavon #interiorsexpert #cooperativecommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/CmhAOFAouDh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=