Why We Speak: Help Spread Refugee Stories

The global refugee crisis represents a pressing humanitarian emergency and calls for an empathetic response. For more than 15 years, the core of our mission has prioritized elevating the voices of refugees and demanding change on a global scale to ensure that their stories are acknowledged and recorded. The global refugee crisis is rapidly growing. Today, over 84 million people worldwide are displaced from their homes or country of origin. Each one has an important story to tell.

In our moving short film, A Refugee’s Journey, Imran Mohammad details his 7-year journey, over 14,217 miles, across continents, finally leading him to make his home in Chicago, IL. His story is one of courage in the face of tragedy.  At 3 Generations, we are thrilled to share the recent accolades and progress of Imran, a Rohingya refugee, and member of our advisory board. 

Imran sat down in November at Georgetown University to discuss how stateless diaspora communities, education, and religion can support refugees. As a Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow,  journalist, and human rights activist, he discussed his experience as a refugee and the challenges facing the Rohingya people. He overcame persecution and oppression and became a journalist, writer, and human rights activist in the United States. Imran even won the national Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists as a reporting fellow. Imran was quoted as sharing: “I always ask myself, ‘Why do I write? What is the purpose of writing?’ I write because writing allowed me to let the world know that Rohingya people exist.”

3G continues to spread awareness about the plight of refugees and document their stories to get the support and compassion they deserve. To learn more about the refugee crisis and other important issues, please visit our website, 3generations.org, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on social media @3_generations to stay updated on 3 Generations.

The refugee crisis represents a pressing humanitarian emergency and calls for an empathetic response. At the core of our mission for 15 years, we have prioritized elevating the voices of refugees and demanding change on a global scale to ensure that their stories are acknowledged and recorded.

Experiencing these tragic circumstances are thousands of migrants from Haiti, Venezuela, and an increasing number from Africa and Asia crossing the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama. This remote passage encompasses over sixty miles of dense rainforests, steep mountains, and expansive swamps, constituting a treacherous journey. “Deep in the jungle, robbery, rape, and human trafficking are as dangerous as wild animals, insects, and the absolute lack of safe drinking water. Week after week, more children are dying, losing their parents, or getting separated from their relatives while on this perilous journey,” said Jean Gough, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNICEF.

In recent years, the area has become a leading transit point for migrants searching for work and sanctuary in the United States. Most migrants aim for the southern U.S. border, hoping the government and current presidential administration will grant them asylum. Economic insecurity, political turmoil, violence, climate change, and the lifting of COVID-19 border restrictions are among the many reasons propelling migrants from their home countries. 

Our commitment to amplifying the voices of refugees and providing a platform to express themselves remains strong. 3G continues to spread awareness about the plight of refugees and document their stories to get the support and compassion they deserve. To learn more about this and our other issues, please visit our website at 3generations.org and sign up for our newsletter to stay current on 3 Generations news.