READ OUR OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOR WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2025
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH DISPLACEMENT, RESETTLEMENT, DEPORTATION, AND ICE #ANONYMOUSAMONGUS
Blog → September 3, 2018

Overcrowded Boats

Overcrowded Boat W Wm

I hesitate to post this picture.

It is sacred.

It is terrifying.

It is true.

And it is not mine.

This is on the Aegean, crossing from Turkey to Greece. In the middle of this boat is a family, and they are my friends.

Their stories are featured in our book, Let Me Tell You My Story.

If you’ve ever wondered why those overloaded inflatable rafts coming to the shores of Greece seemed to be filled only with men (as I believe some US news outlets claimed), let me explain:

The men surrounded the outer rim of the vessels because they let women and children embarks first. The women and children weighted the center of the vessels, steadying them as men helped them shove off from land.

And most importantly, the men sat on the edges to protect the women and children from potential gunfire from both Turkish and Greek forces who were supposed to be curbing these smuggling routes, remember?

Finally, when smugglers, out of fear of coast guards, fled from navigating these vessels and jumped ship (we’ve heard several of those accounts), it was the men (who could drive) who took over.

Other Posts

Advancing Careers: VCU and RPA Launch Medical English and Cultural Competencies Course for International Physicians

Foreign-trained doctors bring invaluable medical expertise, but navigating communication and cultural differences in the U.S. healthcare system can be a challenge. That’s why the @Refugee Physicians Advocacy Coalition #RPA has partnered with @Virginia Commonwealth University’s #VCU Global Education department to co-design a new course: “Medical English and Cultural Competencies in the U.S. Healthcare System.

June 23, 2025
Add Impact to Your Inbox
Sign up for our emails to get inspiring stories and updates delivered straight to you.
Subscribe
© 2025 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.