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Afghanistan

I am a Refugee Child

We hope for peace, friendship, good behavior and good treatment. And my wish is peace.

Writing by Monsoor
Painting by Elizabeth Thayer
Refugee Child Painting
Refugee Child Painting
©2016 ELIZABETH THAYER / TSOS

Writing by Monsoor

Painting by Elizabeth Thayer

Written by Monsoor, from Afghanistan
Moria Camp, Greece, April 12, 2016

I am a refugee child
My wish is peace
I am innocent
There is no question about that
We escaped away from threats
We were faced with bullets, guns, explosions and many other things
We hope for peace, friendship, good behavior and good treatment
And my wish is peace  


I am a refugee child 
I lost my country 
Because of pain, disasters and punishment 
I’m in a grave even though I’m alive 
Disasters and sickness keep coming 
But my wish is peace

I am a refugee child 
I will become calm 
And my mouth will be sweet 
When you laugh with me 
We didn’t come here to eat and drink 
Our decency was under attack 
My wish is peace 

You’re broadcasting human rights 
Hey merciful people 
The refugees are with you and part of that humanity 
Tell me, without helping the people, what is your wish?

Informed Consent

Our team members obtain informed consent from each individual before an interview takes place. Individuals dictate where their stories may be shared and what personal information they wish to keep private. In situations where the individual is at risk and/or wishes to remain anonymous, alias names are used and other identifying information is removed from interviews immediately after they are received by TSOS. We have also committed not to use refugee images or stories for fundraising purposes without explicit permission. Our top priority is to protect and honor the wishes of our interview subjects.

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

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