Alaa’s Resettlement Story

by UNHRC - The UN REFUGEE AGENCY

Alaa was never afraid to tell her story. As her English skills grew she remained committed to letting people know about her refugee experience in order to create empathy and understanding for her community. The summer before her senior year, Alaa traveled to Washington DC to join refugees from around the nation to learn about the history of the United States, to connect with one another, but most importantly- to tell their stories with pride. When Alaa spoke in front of approximately 500 people the room fell silent. Her words became the talk of the evening. Word of her being such an effective communicator spread and the UNHCR decided to make her story a digital advertisement reinforcing the communal value of refugee resettlement. 

A few months after the video was produced Alaa found out she’d been accepted to the University of Pacific and had been awarded a substantial scholarship. In about three years she went from learning the basics of the English language to admittance to a prestigious university. She is proof of what is possible when students of all backgrounds and circumstances have their unique educational, cultural, and literacy needs met in an equitable public school environment.

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