Five stories that inspired us in 2024

This past year, new and emerging conflicts took a devastating toll on more than 120 million people displaced globally. As forced displacement surges to historic new levels, it is more important than ever to find innovative solutions to help refugees rebuild and integrate into their new communities. 

From refugees who tirelessly advocate for their communities in the U.S. Congress and Washington state, to refugee allies who have dedicated their life’s work to protecting and supporting LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers — these are just a few of the amazing people whose resiliency and dedication to refugees has inspired us this year. 

Lucky Karim

Lucky Karim is a 20-year-old Rohingya refugee and advocate who lives in the United States. When she was just 14 years old, her family was forced to flee violence and persecution in Myanmar. In the chaos of fleeing, Lucky, her mother and her siblings were separated from their father. In his absence, she took on the responsibility of making sure her family met their basic needs.

Soon, she found herself advocating for her entire community — sitting across from leaders from the camp, the host community and NGOs like UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. In December 2022, Lucky and her family received the news that they would be resettled to the United States. Although it was a difficult transition, she never lost sight of her dreams. 

Today, Lucky continues to represent her community by sharing her story and advocating for Rohingya rights in the U.S. Congress. She is also completing her memoir, Born Lucky, which will provide a history of the Rohingya and her personal refugee experience.

Kyle Kvamme

Kyle Kvamme is the Communications and Development Coordinator at the Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM), a non-profit organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota that protects and empowers LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers globally. A chance encounter with Juan, a gay man from Venezuela seeking asylum in the U.S., at a picnic during Twin Cities Pride in 2020 brought Kyle a new friendship and outlook on refugee advocacy. 

Prior to meeting Juan, Kyle wasn’t as familiar with the refugee crisis in Venezuela and its impact on the LGBTQIA+ community there. As their friendship deepened and Juan became one of his closest friends, Kyle was inspired to seek out work he was passionate about. 

Now, as the Communications and Development Coordinator at ORAM, Kyle plays a vital role in uplifting the stories of queer refugees like Juan.

Zohal

Zohal is a resettled refugee from Afghanistan who is pursuing a career in the culinary field with the help of Project Feast. Project Feast is a local non-profit organization based in the Seattle metro area that offers a 14-week culinary apprenticeship program to immigrants and refugees like Zohal who want to learn essential skills needed for employment while growing their confidence and forging new friendships.

When Zohal first arrived in Seattle, she was overwhelmed by the new culture and language. But once she came to Project Feast, she discovered new tools to rebuild her life again. At Project Feast, apprentices are encouraged to build on the skills and background they bring from their home countries. With her teaching background in Afghanistan, Zohal gained a reputation as a leader in the program.

Today, Zohal’s future is bright. She works as a cook in a local Seattle hotel kitchen and helps her friend Abby, a fellow apprentice in the program, grow her food business. 

Tshishiku Henry

Tshishiku Henry is a resettled refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a refugee advocate in Seattle, Washington. When he was just a teenager, he was forced to flee his home country. He lived in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi for nearly a decade where he was constantly surrounded by poverty and lack of opportunity. 

Rather than accept his circumstances, Tshishiku established a children’s arts education and advocacy program to give other children at the camp an opportunity to express their concerns. He also co-founded a radio station at the camp and regularly found himself in leadership positions. In 2018, Tshishiku and his family were selected for resettlement to Seattle, Washington. 

Since moving to Seattle, Tshishiku has established himself as a voice for other refugees. Today, Tshishiku is building a more welcoming community in Washington state through his nonprofit, Wide World for Refugee, and as the Washington state delegate for Refugee Congress.

Sara Wahedi

Sara Wahedi is a former Afghan refugee and the founder and CEO of Ehtesab, a mobile app that crowdsources information about emergency events and verifies them before sending alerts to users in Afghanistan. Ehtesab has sent a quarter million alerts to users across the country since it was launched nearly six years ago.

Although Sara’s family was forced to flee Afghanistan when she was just a child, the memories of home remained with her long after she was resettled to Canada. In 2018, Sara returned to Afghanistan to work in the Kabul office of the former president. This decision would fundamentally change Sara’s career path and advocacy work forever as a series of explosions near her home made her realize the critical need for an emergency alert system in her community. 

After the bombings, Sara launched Ehtesab and enrolled at Columbia University in New York City to study data science and urban studies. Today, she continues to lead Ehtesab while pursuing graduate studies. She is committed to finding equitable ways to include the voices of Afghan women and refugee youth. 

How to Help…

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, supports the full journey of refugees who have been forced to flee violence, war and persecution. Our donors help refugees in their greatest time of need with shelter, food, water and medical care, and their support builds awareness for resettled refugees living in the U.S. With your help, more refugees will have the opportunity to build peaceful lives and give their families a bright future.