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Refugee stories are always individual and always unique. In recent years, refugees have too often been spoken about in broad and even dehumanizing statements. But behind every number and every dire situation that forces refugees to flee their homes is a real person, created in God’s image — someone like Jeanne.
Jeanne’s refugee story began in 1994 when she fled atrocities in Rwanda. Her escape was frightening and difficult. To this day, she doesn’t like to remember that time. But she persevered because she believed in more.
Watch the video above to see how far Jeanne’s belief has taken her.
Refugee Stories Are Stories of Believing in More
When violence drove Jeanne from her home in Rwanda, she believed in more. She believed her family could survive, but also that they could one day thrive. As she watched her children growing up in a refugee camp in DR Congo, she believed in a brighter future — in a safe home, in good education, and in the opportunity and freedom to pursue dreams. She didn’t know how she would get her family there, but she believed.
Today, 36.4 million refugees around the world are believing for something better, too. They are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters who made the painful decision to flee conflict or persecution in their home countries, often leaving behind loved ones, special places and ways of life. Their courage has carried them across borders, through dangers and difficulties, and into new communities where they’ve sought safety and the hope of not just survival, but something more.
Stand with refugees like Jeanne by giving today.
Jeanne clung to that belief when she arrived in Washington state after nearly two decades in a refugee camp. She spoke no English and didn’t know how she would navigate life in a new country. Like many newly arrived refugees, the first days were focused on immediate needs — housing, language and helping her children adjust.
But rebuilding a life is about more than those first steps. It’s about having the chance to grow a fully flourishing life.
More than a decade after arriving in the United States, Jeanne was able to pursue a long-held dream through World Relief Western Washington’s Culinary Careers program, gaining the skills and confidence to launch her own small business, Mapassa Catering, LLC.
“For me, cooking is not just feeding people,” she says. “It’s showing love and care.”
Today, Jeanne is not only building a future for her own family — she is contributing to the wellbeing of her community, sharing her gifts and helping other refugee and immigrant women believe in more for their own futures.
We Need People Like You to Make More Stories Like Jeanne’s Possible
Jeanne’s refugee story unfolded in the way it did because of her own tenacity and thanks to people like you believing in her dreams alongside her. But this opportunity is increasingly at risk.
Changes to U.S. immigration policies and drastic cuts to foreign aid are compounding the largest displacement crisis the world has ever seen. Over the last several months, U.S. refugee resettlement for the most vulnerable families has virtually stopped. Some refugees already rebuilding their lives in the United States have lost access to essential benefits that help families cover basic needs as they work to establish their lives in a new country. Meanwhile, vital international aid funding that supports families displaced by violence, disasters and other crises has been drastically reduced.
This is a crucial moment in history — what we do or don’t do today will write the next chapter. Especially as we reflect on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, we each have a role to play in what comes next.
When you give to World Relief, you ensure:
- Refugees and other immigrants already in the U.S. have opportunities to find belonging and pursue brighter futures
- Those displaced by conflicts and disasters around the globe receive life-saving aid
- Advocacy efforts on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable reach lawmakers to create more just, compassionate policies.
Together, we can believe that flourishing gets the final word in each refugee’s story.
Kelly Hill is a Content Manager at World Relief. She previously served as Volunteer Services Manager at World Relief Triad in North Carolina. With a background in International and Intercultural Communication, she is passionate about the power of story to connect people of diverse experiences.