It’s a hope. It’s a dream. But also a painful reminder of what has been lost
Saidi, Bashrheel, Nyabiel and Nyakong have been displaced by violence and conflict. Despite being forced to flee their homes in Burundi, Yemen and South Sudan, they still hold on to their dreams.
Saidi – a promise to my father
Imagine making a promise to your father that you would be a famous football player, only to find yourself displaced and living in a refugee camp.
Would you give up on your dream? Or, remain hopeful that you could someday make your debut on the global stage?
This is a decision that one young man had to make.
Saidi is ready to make his debut
"Life is something that changes constantly," says 17-year-old Saidi. "Today you are here. Tomorrow you will be somewhere else."
As a Burundian refugee living in Tanzania, he did not expect life to take the turn that it did. Despite this, Saidi will not let this situation take away his dream to be a famous football player.
This is the future that keeps Saidi going. He will own his own football club
Bashrheel – after every dark night, there is a brighter day
Even as he fled from the ongoing fighting in Yemen, Bashrheel had the strength and determination to carry the things that mattered the most to him.
As he made his way towards safety in Djibouti, he picked up items like discarded dolls. These items are part of his dream – The Helen Keller Garden.
"All are welcome," says Bashrheel
"Look at the war, what the war makes and the war (has) left. Many graves, many bodies," says Bashrheel.
He is well aware of the devastation left by the ongoing fighting and what that could mean for his dream. But he remains hopeful for the future.
"This is not a museum only...it's a zoo, a museum, and a garden."
Nyabiel – I dream of my daughter
It's been five long years since Nyabiel last saw her daughter, Nyakong.
When the conflict in South Sudan broke out, the mother and daughter were separated with Nyakong ending up in Kenya and Nyabiel in Ethiopia. What makes their story truly tragic is the fact that they cannot be reunited as both of them are living as refugees in their respective host countries.
Nyabiel's hope for her daughter, Nyakong, is that she will go to school
Nyabiel is a winemaker.
"When it comes to wine, my opinion does not matter," she says. "The customer can tell if the wine is good or bad."
Nyabiel's hope is to be reunited with her daughter Nyakong. Together, they will revive her business and live the dream that they share.
Once Nyabiel and Nyakong are reunited, they will start their own business
Saidi, Bashrheel, Nyabiel and Nyakong are just a few of the millions of people displaced globally. These are the futures they envision for themselves and they remain determined to see them through, despite the hurdles they face.
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