Refugee Stories
What it's like to be young and Venezuelan in a time of chaos
Dreams deferred — Venezuela's crisis has changed the lives of its youth forever. But whether they choose to leave or stay put, the scope of their ambition remains the same – no matter how tough things get.
Written by: Jez Fredenburgh
Young, gay and vulnerable: The African outcasts living in constant danger
Waiting to walk out — Kenya has become a safe haven for those fleeing war and famine in neighbouring states. But in secret hideaways and temporary homes, LGBT refugees are being forced – once again – to hide their true selves instead of walking out into the world with pride.
Written by: Jacob Kushner
The British sisters documenting the lives of Syrian refugees
Lost in Lebanon — Sisters Georgia and Sophia Scott discuss their documentary 'Lost in Lebanon', which follows four Syrian refugees living in the neighbouring country, giving a human face to a dehumanised conflict.
Written by: Marta Bausells
The best short documentaries celebrating diversity on and off the screen
Watch them all — The curator of a showcase of British film talent shares three films you can watch online, showing both the challenges and beauty of diversity and change.
Written by: Marta Bausells
The stateless athlete running for her life
Freedom... one step at a time — Sixteen-year-old Rahel Gebretsadik had to flee Eritrea to find her feet. Now she's gunning for the finishing line in Israel, running stateless and free as a refugee.
Written by: Gabrielle Weiniger
The insider capturing the unseen and ignored stories of refugees
#WorldRefugeeDay — Afghan photographer Mujtaba Jalali has been documenting the journey of refugees as they make their way across foreign lands and hostile borders. But he’s no outsider. The journey is his own.
Written by: Mujtaba Jalali
The storytellers revealing Eritrea's dark secrets
Telling Eritrea's untold stories — Under an oppressive military regime, hundreds of Eritreans are fleeing their country and making perilous journeys through Africa and beyond. Three storytellers have found innovative ways to shed light on one of the world's most underreported crises, through film, documentary and illustration.
Written by: Natasha Turner
First Person: How I escaped civil war in Sierra Leone to become a CEO & Afrobeat star
Refugee Stories — Yasmin Kadi fled Sierra Leone with her family during the outbreak of the Blood Diamond Civil War. Seeking refuge in the UK, Yasmin has gone on to become a cult Afrobeat musician, musical theatre actress, and CEO of her own record label: Refugee Records. As part of our Refugee Stories series, Yasmin speaks of her experiences.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
First Person: I fled Iran, fearing death, in search of religious freedom
Refugee Stories — Majid Golshani fled Iran following his conversion to the Bahá’í faith, which could be punishable by death. Settling in the UK, Majid's life remains in flux, legally unable to work but desperate for a sense of purpose. As part of our Refugee Stories series, Majid talks of his continued hopes for a better life.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
My terrifying five-year journey to escape the North Korean famine
Refugee Stories — Yona Kim fled the North Korean famine in 1997, escaping a country where abuses are "without parallel in the contemporary world." As part of our Refugee Stories series, Yona talks of her incredible journey to safety in the UK, and her dream to now help those still suffering in her home country.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
The Nobel Prize-winning academic who fled Nazi Germany as a child
Refugee Stories — January 27 marks Holocaust Memorial Day, a time to remember the atrocities of the past and ensure the same horror is never replicated. As part of our Refugee Stories series, Leslie Brent speaks of being one of the first Jews to flee Nazi Germany, coming to England as a refugee at the age of 13. He would go on to become a Nobel Prize-winning academic.
Written by: Elizabeth Sulis Gear
In Pictures: Coming of age as a Sudanese refugee in Australia
Embracing a new life, preserving your heritage — Coming of age is hard, no matter how or where it happens. But for thousands of young people from South Sudan, growing up in Australia has been tantamount to a fresh start – an opportunity to forge new friendships, ambitions and identities.
Written by: Shannon Jensen
