Human Being. Being Human.

These stories are recollections of human experience in the lives of refugees and displaced persons – present and past. Their stories are the strongest proof that they are just as empowered human beings just as you and I.

“I reflect on the good and bad parts of my life as a humanitarian”

Looking back, Nick has always gravitated towards humanity’s underdogs. And he continues to work to secure human dignity for people in the most precarious situations. One story has made him reflect on the good and the bad parts of being a humanitarian.

“I hope to see my home country as it was, with peace in the streets, in the parks, and in the hearts of my people”

26-year-old Shabana is proud to be Afghan and wants people to know that being Afghan is to be brave, and that they haven’t only experienced dark days.

“I want people to realize that LGBT+ rights are human rights”

36-year-old Mohamad has Syrian roots but had to flee his home country to avoid persecution because of his sexual orientation. Today, he is an active member of the organization LGBT Asylum in Denmark, proudly waving the rainbow flag.

”I hit the nail on the head when it comes to three things: Being an ethnic minority, being a woman, and working in the IT industry”

Afghanistan-born Giso has found her calling as a mentor for young minority women in the IT industry. Today, her cultural background is a useful tool in her work towards the digital empowerment of refugee and migrant women in the workspace.

”In my heart, I feel at home with my LGBT+ family”

Mohamed’s story is about a lifelong battle for safety, refuge and the ability to be himself as an LGBT+ person. His journey from Sierra Leone to Europe wasn’t easy, and to this day, he is still fighting for his right to be safe.

A long way back home

Juma Gul's story is about finding himself as a stranger in his homeland of Afghanistan after returning from Pakistan after nearly 30 years of displacement. Despite tough times, he reconnected with his homeland.

"A woman's role is a constant challenge. I took that challenge and proved that I could overcome it"

Amat is 27 years old. She is one of the few female representatives in her field as a Site Management and Coordination (SMC) team leader for the DRC in Yemen. Her story is about facing challenges as a woman in the field.

"Being able to help others means the world to me personally"

Ali dreams of a safe future where he doesn’t have to live every day carrying around the fear of an unknown future – the fear of being deported at any minute.

”Most of this, is not my own story. That is important for me to point out”

Sara published her first poetry collection earlier in 2021. It tells the stories of her upbringing between two cultures, seeking her Palestinian roots, and trying to understand her cultural identity through a generational perspective.

"Never lose hope and always follow your dreams"

Mehrdad has been decorating the walls of Temporary Reception Center Bira since March 2019, making them come to life with graffiti and paintings, giving beauty and colour to the facility that is now shelter for him and more than 1500 other persons.

"To be honest, I thought I would never get a chance for a real job, but then the offer came"

Moayed has been volunteering since day one in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now, being an asylum seeker for almost a year he has a job and lives independantly in an apartment that he rents.

"Peace is my priority"

Ndaishimiye lives with his wife and children in their house in Nduta Camp, Tanzania. Back in his country, Burundi, he was asked to teach children about the ruling party, but refused. As a consequence, he was jailed.

"Humanity comes first"

Mohammad started working at the age of 11 at the local pharmacy. That is how he earned the means for his education and managed to graduate the economics at the university. He learned a lot about medicines and developed an affection towards medicine – knowledge that turned out to be very useful.

"I decided to just take the matter into my own hands"

In 1997, Nicole fled Eritrea to avoid military conscription. Her story is a story of female empowerment and strength. Coming to a new country, Nicole had to overcome the challenges of being “othered” due to her birth name, Rahwa.

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