Leaving My Homeland: After the Journey
5 total works
After fleeing civil war in Yemen, Sahar survived the trip to Toronto, Canada. Although she still has nightmares about bombings and losing her baby brother—Sahar cannot believe how quickly her English is improving, and how much fun she had trick-or-treating on Halloween. Paired with facts about the current situation in Yemen and how different countries work to welcome and support refugees, Sahar’s story gives insight on a refugee’s life in a new country.
Gang violence forced Martinez to flee Guatemala to Mexico. And now, his mother has decided they must return to Guatemala. Martinez is scared—but the support of his new rural community in Guatemala gives him hope for a future without violence. Paired with facts about the instability in Guatemala and the experience of displaced persons there, Martinez’s story offers a unique look at when refugees must return home.
From conflict-torn Somalia, to the massive Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya, and finally to a new home in Sweden, Fatuma’s family is used to constant change. Still, Sweden's cold winters and difficult language have required a lot of adjustment. There is hope, but also fear. Fatuma’s story gives readers a glimpse of how, even in countries that accept refugees, not everyone is fully accepting.
Baseema’s family was nearly torn apart by the terrorist violence of Boko Haram in her homeland of Nigeria. Forced to flee their farm, they relied on friends of her father for a home and support. Still unable to return, the family moves again to Kano, the second largest city in Nigeria, and struggles to survive. Baseema’s story gives a glimpse of how many refugees rely on extended networks of family and friends and how, with education disrupted, young women are often forced to marry early.