Breaking Barriers: Empowering young people

Rising Strong: The Voices and Journeys of Young People from Refugee Backgrounds

In a world where displacement has become an increasingly common story, young people from refugee backgrounds often stand at a powerful intersection of loss and hope, trauma and resilience, struggle and strength. Their journeys are not just about survival—they’re about redefining futures, challenging stereotypes, and creating spaces where their voices can thrive.

The Journey Doesn’t End at Arrival

Fleeing war, persecution, or conflict is just the beginning. For many young refugees, resettlement brings a new set of challenges: learning a new language, adapting to unfamiliar social norms, navigating education systems, and dealing with the silent weight of what they’ve left behind.

But within this complex terrain, young people often become the bridge between cultures. They are translators, cultural navigators, caretakers, and dreamers all at once. Many take on responsibilities far beyond their years—supporting parents with paperwork, helping younger siblings settle into schools, and trying to carve out their own identities in spaces that don’t always feel made for them.

Strength in the Struggle

Despite the odds, young refugees are rewriting the narrative. They’re not just passive recipients of aid or sympathy; they’re activists, scholars, artists, and leaders. They bring with them stories rich in perspective, creativity born from necessity, and a unique ability to see the world through multiple lenses.

Their lived experience teaches resilience in ways textbooks never could. From setting up youth-led community groups to excelling in school or advocating for refugee rights on global stages, these young people are proving that they are more than their pasts.

What They Need from Us

Support for young people from refugee backgrounds isn’t just about meeting basic needs—it’s about providing platforms for growth and self-expression. It means:

• Creating safe, inclusive spaces in schools and communities.

• Offering mentorship, scholarships, and tailored support to help them navigate education and employment.

• Listening without assumptions, and amplifying their voices rather than speaking for them.

• Celebrating their contributions, not just their struggles.

Their Future Is Our Future

When we invest in young refugees, we invest in stronger, more diverse, and compassionate societies. These young people carry with them incredible potential—not in spite of what they’ve been through, but because of it.

Their stories remind us that courage doesn’t always look like grand acts. Sometimes, it looks like walking into a classroom where you don’t speak the language. Sometimes it’s applying for a job when your past feels invisible on paper. And sometimes, it’s daring to dream in a world that once told you not to.

Young people from refugee backgrounds are not just surviving—they are rising, redefining, and leading. And the world is better for it.