Archive

We share stories to move people to act. Explore our stories archive using the filters below, then learn how you can help.

ROYA AND MUNIR OUR LIVES BEFORE UNTHINKABLE LOVED ONE THREATENED
Roya  ·  Afghanistan

Our Lives Before: The Unthinkable Happened

In the constitution, on paper, women have equal rights with men, but in reality, they have no rights there.
Adam Abdoali Jamal Suleiman OUR LIVES BEFORE no stories
Sudan

On the Streets of Paris

Until contention, rumors of conflict, angry politics and war triggered fear and anxiety
Amina Children 1
Amina  ·  Syria

Belonging: A Math Teacher and a Mother

I have missed three years of their lives. I will never get them back.
Large Ali 2016
Ali  ·  Afghanistan

The Journey: I Crossed the Mountainous Border

I kept thinking, "I will be dead; I'm not going to make it!"
OUR LIVES BEFORE Leonard Bagalwa
Leonard  ·  Democratic Republic of the Congo

Our Lives Before: Born a Survivor

Forced to be a rebel then a spy, Leonard was protected by the pygmies
Amina no watermark
Amina  ·  Syria

Leaving Aleppo

Amina is one of countless indomitable refugee mothers in the world
D C Sunset Run for Refugees 2019
Afghanistan

Sunset Run For Refugees, D.C.

Refugees and advocates ran or walked from George Washington University to Lincoln Memorial (approximately 2 miles) as part of an annual event in celebration of World Refugee Day. An Afghan family from Kabul seeking refuge in Frankfurt, Germany, would have to walk almost 4300 miles. That distance is the equivalent of walking from Boston, Massachusettes to San Diego, California, then up the West Coast past Seattle, Washington to the Canadian border.
Mathudo
A West African Country

This is What They Did to Me

The people of Europe, they that think that we just came here to look for money. No!
Nicole Ludwig, Frankfurt, Germany
Germany

I Organized a Refugee Support Group

In the end you will be judged by the fullness of your heart.
Julie Anderson, Frankfurt, Germany
United States

She Established a Library for Refugees

I’m thankful to be a small part of this.
A Desperate Voyage Through the Sahara Desert
Alex  ·  Nigeria

The Journey: My Drawings Show Sorrows Along the Way

The people that transport you, they don’t show love.
Christine Dolan, Paris, France
Christine Dolan  ·  United Kingdom

I Was Called the Sock Ambassador

There are many desperate people…
Brown Family
United States

Bikes for Refugees

“We’re your friends, so let’s break down the walls”
Kayra Martinez, Greece

The Art Creates Support for Families and Children

When I dropped off my first carload … I asked, “May I stay and help?”
Linar and her family, from Afghanistan
Linar  ·  Afghanistan

We Were Stuck Between Two Patrols

We only had enough to get this far, here in Greece. Now we’re stuck.
Asad, Afghanistan
Asad  ·  Afghanistan

Belonging: You Are Safe

​You have to have faith and trust in humanity.
Rhenald, Nigeria
Rhenald  ·  Libya

Belonging: My Dream is to Help People Make Life Better

Everyone has his own road and his own destiny.
Idehen, West Africa
Idehen  ·  Libya

Why We Flee: Going to Libya was Hell

I said, “God, OK, if today is my last day, let it be.”
← 7 8 9 1011 12 13 →
181 - 200 of 312 stories
What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2025, more than 117.8 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced by war, persecution, or human rights abuses — and 45 million of them are children.

They arrive in refugee camps and countries seeking safety and carrying little: legal papers, if they're lucky. A backpack. A child's hand in theirs.

What they carry that we can't see is heavier: fractured families, homes they'll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

In a climate where immigrant stories are often ignored or twisted, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares what they survived, they reclaim their voice. When we amplify it through film, photography, and advocacy, the world listens. Hearts soften. Policy begins to shift.

Because when a lawmaker sees a person instead of a statistic, and a neighbor understands instead of fears, rebuilding becomes possible.

Your support helps us share these stories where they matter most.

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, Their Story is Our Story

Add Impact to Your Inbox
Sign up for our emails to get inspiring stories and updates delivered straight to you.
Subscribe
© 2026 Their Story is Our Story Privacy Policy
Their Story is Our Story is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization under the United States Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible. Our tax identification number is 812983626.