Refugee Journeys

Imagine that your country has been torn apart by war and violence and that your one hope for survival is to leave the only home you've ever known and search for safety. This is the experience of millions of refugees around the world. Most have few material possessions, no money, no food, and nowhere to go. If they are lucky enough to survive the long journey, many of them find shelter at a refugee camp and are later resettled in another country. The links below will show you what life is like for refugees.

"We wanted it all immediately - homes, families, college, the ability to send money home, advanced degrees, and finally some influence. But for most of us, the slowness of our transition-after five years I still do not have the necessary credits to apply to a four year college-has wrought chaos." (p. 13)

Refugees leave their homes with no money, few possessions and nowhere to go. How do they figure out what to do next?

Just because people make it to a refugee camp doesn't mean their hardships are over. Violence, malnutrition and disease are major concerns. Watch this video about life in a refugee camp and what is being done to help these people out.

Sudan isn't the only country in the world with a refugee crisis. Here you will find statistics on where many refugees are from.

No one can stay at a refugee camp forever, but resettling in a new country can be a long, difficult and frustrating process. Learn about the process of resettlement in the United States.

Resettlement can mean the start of a new, safer life for refugees. However, assimilating to a new country when you don't speak the language or understand the culture comes with its own difficulties. Read the story of a mother of five who fled from Somalia and ended up in Burlington.