European Union keeps raising the budget for border control while the budget for reception conditions for refugees keeps shrinking. Borders are closed, people have nowhere to go. Human rights and international laws are overlooked. Xenophobic political movements fuel fear, creating a non existing enemy of the victim. Real women, men and children thrown around as pieces of garbage although they all have the right to be treated with humanity. Refugees are left to deal with the trauma resulted by war, loss and forced displacement, on their own.
Finding Peace in Exile is a program that empowers and activates women residing in refugee camps, ultimately creating a safe space. The refugees discover different ways to renew clothing and use makeup, amongst other things, always focusing on developing their own ideas and tastes. It is a blissful time when women embrace their femininity and have the freedom to dream.
The pictures of Syrian-Kurdish girls serve to redefine the word ‘refugee’, reminding the true victims whose future is very dependent of our voice. The future of our world will be defined by how we act today - whether we offer a helping hand, or pretend injustice is not our collective issue.
