FRANCINE Before the workshop, I couldn't share my story, but now I speak with confidence.
CAROLINE One day I hope to be God's servant as a sister in the church.
JESSICA I will write my story to give people hope that life is not as hard as they think.
DARARTU I said to myself, 'Let me study hard to become a doctor to help my people, especially, mothers and kids.
SUSAN When I was 13 a war broke out. We do not know where our parents are. I am the first born. I must be the head of the family.
JOHN I want to be successful and stand on my own two feet.
FALONNE Some people think refugees leave home because they want to. But that's not always true.
ESTHER I would like to meet my siblings and my parents, but I am unable to find them.
GIGI We learned how to take pictures, how to write stories about our past and present life, and what we want to be in the future.
MIMI Whenever I would be called to the UN I would get to the door, lose courage, and just go home. But now I am able to go and share.
BERSHERB I came to Kenya because they wanted me to get married when I was so young. I was only 11.
CHANTAL I do not like the name ‘refugee’. I want to be called by the name of my parents. I think about my rights and my future.
ABUL I got courage. I learned to write stories about myself and other people in the community. It’s just nice. I wish to know more.
SARAH She has brought someone to marry me, which was not good for me. What I did, I decided to escape from home.
SAUDA I would like to build a big house where the orphans can stay and they can say that they have a home, even if they do not have parents.
MAZIRA I lost both of my parents. My uncle decided to look after me. His children go to school, but my uncle says that school is not for orphans.
STEPHANIE One day while we were sleeping, we heard people come into our house. They had machetes, knives, and broken bottles.
ANISA I want to talk about my aunties, my father’s sisters, and my mom’s sister. I won’t forget what they have done for me.
SUNDAY The people who killed my father were also looking for us.
IMMACULATE She was lucky not to have been eaten by wild animals in that cruel forest.
ESTHER I would like to be like any other child my age: being able to enjoy going to school, and wake up every day feeling healthy.
SHARON In 2017, war broke out and we saw everyone running for their lives.
YASMINE I was heading to university with my friends when suddenly we heard a loud noise and saw smoke. It was a bomb.
ZAHABU In Congo we have many problems. We have war, poverty, and do not have good schools.
SANDRINE My father used to tell me every day that I am the one who will advance my family.
SANDRA I learned something in her life; that you don’t have to be in a war zone to be a victim of conflict.
SAMUELLA I would like to tell you a story about the strongest woman I have ever met.
ALIMO FAIDA In South Sudan we had lived a very nice life and I went to school, so I was surprised that we were left with nothing.
QUEEN We ran to different areas. It was a time filled with sorrow as children were separated from their parents.
ORNELLA My dream is to become a famous singer. A worldwide celebrity.
ODILLE As I was traveling, I saw bodies in rivers. Young people were being taken by force by unknown people.
MANEGABE We asked a pastor for help but he could only help one of us. I told him if he could take my cousin then I would find my own way.
NAOMI I wished I would die and leave this world behind. I wished I had never come into this world. I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone.
LINDA I know that I am strong, wise, and courageous and that I am worth it.
LUCIE One day I will live my dream.
KYNTHIA War broke in Burundi in 2015. My father and my pregnant mother told my sister and I to run. We went out the front door. We ran all night.
YVONNE I am happy when I remember how we all used to sit at the table together to eat.
ROSINE I know my mom loves me and misses me, wherever she is.
ABU SUZAN I’ve also seen that all of the teachers who teach us are women. This makes me very happy.
ANA MARIA Dear Alex, This is your sister. I am writing this letter to remind you of the good life we had.
TRACILLE Before it was men who were responsible for the home. But now women are empowered.
FABIOLA Because of the war, my parents had to leave me. I was all alone.
JASTINE My mother went her way. My father went his way.
SOLANGE B Being a doctor will allow me independence and stability. Maybe I will see the world.
MARTE Three men entered our house. My sister and I escaped to our neighbors to save our lives.
ANZOA Education became an issue because my grandmother could not afford to pay.
AIMEE My life has been hard. I have had a lot of difficult thoughts. I have had a lot of stress.
JACKY From the time we arrived in this camp, life has been hard.
DIVINE One day when we were at home, unknown men came in the house. They took my dad and beat him.
EMELYNE I would like to tell you about my dreams, my thoughts and what I desire in life.
CHRISTELLA My life was perfect, and in just an overnight, it was ruined in darkness.
CHRISTINE I would like to return to my village and teach there.
BLESSING I always feel like I'm a child looking after other children.
BETTY When I arrived in Kenya, I did not have anywhere to sleep. I did not have clothes and I did not have food.
CHANTALE Z I had to leave my country because of discrimination and insecurity.
BEATRICE When I become a doctor, I will help people free of charge.
DELICIA While I was in Burundi, I had a family and we lived well. My father used to work in the government.
SOLANGE A I didn’t know that you could write something and make a film. But now I have seen with my own eyes.
AWAYE I was 17 years old when I came to the camp in Uganda.
BEATRICE B The war was very bad. We were sleeping in the wild every day. We would go to the mountains to hide so we don’t get killed.
AGNESS In the camp, they have a government school which is not good. I want to go to a better school and learn more.
CHANCE They named me Chance because the day I was born there was a fire in our house.
NYARIEK YIEN That's where I got my name which means: Born in a time of many problems.
SOLANGE Before I attended this workshop I couldn’t stand in front of people to talk or even write my story.
EVALINE Since I was born, my father doesn't love me. He says he does not want girls in his home.
HAPPY Although it’s sad to remember, sharing helps us heal and move on.
CHALTU I was born in Ethiopia in the Oromo region. My tribe is Oromo and I love my small village.
GRACE When I came to the workshop, I found some friends like me.
BEZA AIMEE One day I will be someone that helps people who have a hard life.
ANN Ever since I'll Tell You My Story, my life started changing. I started thinking big.
MERCY I don't know who are my mother and father. I don't know if they are alive or not.
JOLIE I have learned how to share my story with others...every time I tell the story my head feels lighter.
INDIA One day war broke out and I ran away with my uncle. I went through hell.
Helping refugee girls reconnect and reimagine their lives through writing, photography, and filmmaking.
We teach refugee teenage girls in East Africa writing, photography, and filmmaking skills that help them share their stories with the world.
Intensive creative assignments remind each one that they are capable young survivors who will build fulfilling and productive futures despite traumatic beginnings.
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Writing
Participants write short stories as they gain trust in the group.
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Photography
They learn photography skills to illustrate their personal Audio Photo Essays.
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Filmmaking
The group works together to shoot a short film and learn from local professionals.
FEATURED AUDIO PHOTO ESSAYS
The girls write, photo-illustrate, and narrate their own Audio Photo Essays.
JACKY
EVALINE
TRACILLE
STEPHANIE
SUNDAY
CHANTALE
BLESSING
SHARON
CHANTAL
SUNDAY
DEVINE
FRANCINE
FEATURED
SHORT FILMS
I Want to Be Home Again
2020 Kampala Uganda Workshop
Adjumani Stories
2022 Northern Uganda Workshop