Their Story is Our Story Announces Launch of Global Refugee Archive
Salt Lake City, UT - October 18, 2021 - Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) today announced the launch of the Global Refugee Archive, a database of refugee stories from around the world. The archive is housed at Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library ScholarsArchive and is available to the public, academic researchers, and humanitarians alike.
“The launch of the Global Refugee Archive is the culmination of over four years of effort. We are thrilled to have the support of Brigham Young University in establishing this resource,” said Kristen Smith Dayley, Executive Director at TSOS. “Stories change us and they broaden our own lived experiences. There is no more powerful way to open minds and hearts.”
“The overarching goal of the Global Refugee Archive is to preserve incredible stories of triumph and inclusion while closing the gap between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ When personal stories are shared, it changes the perception and reception of incoming refugees. The Archive will allow scholars of all ages and interests to fill in the sterile research facts with real, human experiences,” said Robin Peterson, Director of Archives at TSOS.
“As the entire world watched as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, stirring up the desire to help and understand the plight of hundreds of thousands of Afghans evacuating, as well as the countless others remaining behind Taliban lines, releasing the Global Refugee Archive to the public is not only critical but paramount, to comprehend such crises on an individual level,” Peterson said.
“Although initiated with interview materials collected by TSOS, other organizations are invited to contribute stories to the Global Refugee Archive,” said Dayley. “In so doing, the Archive will become an important tool for preserving, protecting, and disseminating personal accounts collected by groups around the world.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Global Refugee Archive will take place on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library. In support of the launch of the Archive, TSOS is presenting a lecture series, “Displacement Today,” on October 21-23, 2021 at Brigham Young University and Millcreek Community Library. For additional detail and information on how to participate, please visit the lecture series webpage.
About Their Story is Our Story:
Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to sharing stories of the refugee journey to advocate and educate and to actuate integration. For more information, visit www.tsosrefugees.org.
BYU Law and Leadership Conference
TSOS presented at BYU 's Law and Leadership Peacebuilding Conference on March 25, 2022. It was an honor to participate with scholars from Columbia, Tufts, BYU, the University of Utah and elsewhere. Discussions focused on how to find consensus and build peace in a time of division, and while the presenters spoke on very different topics, each came back to the same themes.
Expanding University Involvement
University campuses are some of the most vibrant centers for bridging learning with activism. Learn how some community partner campus chapters are getting involved in support of refugees.
The Daily Universe: BYU library launches Their Story is Our Story’s global refugee scholarly archive
The Daily Universe, Brigham Young University's student newspaper, covers of the launch of the Global Refugee Archive at Brigham Young University's library.