Two years ago, I began serving as an English teacher to Syrian and Iraqi refugee children in Turkey through The GiveLight Foundation.  To get to know them better, I asked my students to write about themselves for homework one night. The next class, I was stunned by their profound responses. Some explained how much they valued school or family after losing a parent in Syria, while others committed to return to Syria to fight for human rights despite losing their eyesight. They kindled the resilient spirit of the type of person I wanted to be, yet I along with others rarely hear their small voices. It was at this moment, we were inspired to work to change the power dynamic of who should be heard.  

 

Using a Welles Award, I conducted storytelling workshops so they could write their own stories from their perspectives, now collated into a book for publication. Our book is merely a stepping-stone towards changing diverse representation, one that cannot exist if we forget to give marginalized groups the chance to speak and represent themselves ... one that cannot exist if we forget to take a moment to listen.

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*80% of earnings will be donated to GiveLight