Thank you for sharing this powerful story with us. Could you tell us about what inspired you to write it?

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I chose to write an inspirational story, and I hope my readers will understand that a friend is a God-given gift, and that despite the life we live, we are capable of doing something and making changes. 

 

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What messages do you hope your readers will take away from your story? 

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I want the readers to understand that, with friendship, hard work and love, plus unity as a team, we can overcome hard times and build a better life together and overcome the challenges we face in our lives as young people. As young people, there is still hope for the future; the key is just love and unity. 

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What, from your perspective, is the point of storytelling? Why do we tell stories, what do they do for us, and what purpose do they serve?

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Through telling stories we can explore our own identities and values, and connect with others on a shared human experience. 

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Did your story change over the course of your participation in the storytelling workshops? How?

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My story was a confusing narration about me and my friend John in the beginning. I had no clear way to make it seem real or easy to understand, but after the storytelling programme I had a chance to develop my story. Through the sessions I went through together with my friends at the Elite Humanitarian Service Team I gained the skills and understanding to show my story rather than tell it. I also learned to include ethnographic interview material to help narrate my story. This was not easy to achieve but I appreciate the hard work of my mentors, especially Laura Moran and Isharah Theobarh Barhame in helping me to do so. I also want to thank my peer reviewer who is now my friend, Maximillian Kane, for his hard work and dedication to making my story the best it could be through his feedback and suggestions. I am really happy for all of the sessions that helped me to grow as a storyteller and writer.

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How does your story offer an alternative path, point of view, or way forward? How does it speak to the possibility of an otherwise?

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My story offers a fresh idea by emphasising resilience, friendship and community in refugee lives. It challenges the usual narrative of despair in refugee camps. My story shows how hardship can inspire leadership and responsibilities. After John loses his parents, he takes responsibility for his siblings, proving that even in difficult moments young people can shape their destinies. Our friendship grows into a partnership of support, by showing the power of solidarity in achieving personal and collective goals together as friends.

 

My story also redefines typical refugee narratives by portraying refugees as resourceful, creative contributors to their communities. By emphasising teamwork in football and collaboration in brick-making, it demonstrates how small steps can lead to significant change among young people.
 
By showing how young people seek possibility, agency and unity in creating new opportunities even in the hardest of times, my story speaks to the ‘possibility of an otherwise’.