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Blog → April 18, 2018

We Receive More Than We Give

Nicole With A Refugee Friend

Written by Nicole Ludwig

APRIL 18, 2018
Written by Nicole Ludwig, TSOS Refugee Coordinator

When I entered the newly opened refugee camp near my home for the first time, I had no idea what the people there had gone through. I only knew it must have been horrible in their home country if they chose to risk drowning in a small, overloaded, rubber boat crossing a sea rather than staying at home.

I soon discovered their stories one by one. They opened their hearts and told me their stories in many ways — through paintings and drawings, through gestures, like an old lady whose hand movements demonstrated how the Taliban slit the throat of her son and made her watch, or just by looking into their eyes to discover the depths of fear, pain, and grief that will never go away.

These people needed help, support and above all lots of love and real friendship. I did my best. I managed a neighborhood volunteer group and tried to help them wherever I could in addition to managing my normal, peaceful, family life. The displaced people taught my children and myself so much, like how thankful we should be for what we have —  above all, freedom.

We received more than we gave — love, friendship, trust and they made me rethink my priorities in life. My work with the refugees affected my kids a lot. I could see their ability to love and their desire to share time with the refugees grow a lot. And they did so without prejudice.

I try to teach my kids that in the end, we will all be judged by the courage of our hearts. I hope there are many more people out there trying to be courageous and let these people in their lives.  Giving of yourself can be simple but you will benefit in so many ways for the rest of your life.

What would you do if you had to leave everything behind?

By the end of 2024, more than 123.2 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced from their homes due to war, persecution, or human rights abuses.

An increase of 7.2 million over 2023, that’s more than 19,619 people every day — roughly one person every 4.4 seconds.

They arrive in refugee camps and other countries, like the US, seeking the one thing they’ve lost: safety.

Fleeing political imprisonment, ethnic violence, religious persecution, gang threats, or war crimes, they come with what little they managed to carry:

Legal papers – if they’re lucky.

A single backpack.

Sometimes a child’s hand in theirs.

They also carry the weight of what they left behind: fractured families, homes they’ll never return to, professions they loved, friends and relatives they may never see again.

They carry loss most of us can’t imagine – but also the truth of what they’ve endured.

At TSOS, we believe stories are a form of justice. When someone shares their experience of forced displacement, they reclaim their voice. And when we amplify that voice – through film, photography, writing, and advocacy – the world listens. Hearts soften. Communities open. Policy begins to shift.

That shift matters. Because when neighbors understand instead of fear…

when lawmakers see people, not politics…

when a teacher knows what her student has survived…

Rebuilding life from the ashes becomes possible.

We’re fighting an uphill battle. In today’s political climate, refugee stories are often twisted or ignored. They’re reduced to statistics, portrayed as national threats, or used to score political points.

The truth – the human, nuanced truth – gets lost, and when it does, we lose compassion.

We are here to share their truth anyway.

At TSOS, we don’t answer to headlines or algorithms. We are guided by a simple conviction: every person deserves to be seen, heard, and welcomed.

Our work is powered by the people we meet — refugees and asylum seekers rebuilding after loss, allies offering sanctuary, and communities daring to extend belonging.

Your support helps us share their stories — and ensure they’re heard where they matter most.

“What ultimately persuaded the judge wasn’t a legal argument. It was her story.”

— Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director, TSOS

Will you help us keep telling the truth?

No donation is too small — and it only takes a minute of your time.

Why give monthly?

We value every gift, but recurring contributions allow us to plan ahead and invest more deeply in:

  • New refugee storytelling and advocacy projects
  • Resources to train and equip forcibly displaced people to share their own stories
  • Public education that challenges fear with empathy
  • Local efforts that help communities welcome and integrate newcomers

As our thank-you, monthly supporters receive fewer fundraising messages — and more stories of the impact they’re making possible.

You don’t have to be displaced to stand with those who are.

Can you give today — and help carry these stories forward?

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